Newsletter 162

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FY23-24 NSW Skilled Migration Nomination Program Open 

With further changes from the previous financial year, the 2023–2024 Skilled Migration State Nomination Programme is now available to qualified applicants residing in New South Wales as well as overseas.

A new strategy to address the state’s widespread skills shortages is one of the adjustments. Priority sectors will now receive more attention than listings of skilled occupations in New South Wales. High-ranking EOIs submitted in non-priority sectors may still be taken into consideration, but the priority sectors that require specialised talent receive the majority of attention.

The NSW target sectors are: 

•  Health
•  Education
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) 
•  Infrastructure 
• Agriculture

You must satisfy the following primary eligibility requirements in order to be considered for sate nomination in NSW:

• meet each prerequisite for a visa listed by the Department of Home Affairs.
• possess a current Skills Assessment for a job in a priority industry as defined by NSW;
• must be a resident of NSW and have done so continuously for at least six months, or
• presently residing abroad and have done so continuously for at least six months.

Invitation Rounds

The invitation rounds have no defined dates in advance. However, it is projected that the next invitation round for the Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) would begin on October 2, 2023.

Approved travel agents – China 

This updates the list of China travel agencies authorised to issue Visitor visas under the Approved Destination Status (ADS) stream.  Following the interruption during COVID, this stream has resumed for application.

The started on September 25, 2023.

Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot – UK/Australia 

Through a new immigration route called the Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot (IECSEP), qualifying UK citizens will be able to advance their careers in Australia. IECSEP is one of a number of outcomes agreed upon under the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement that will strengthen economic ties between the two nations.

The IECSEP provides two streams:

• Highly qualified and experienced innovators who work in professions classified as ANZSCO Skill Level 1 can stay in the innovation stream for up to three years.
• Early Careers stream – remains for up to one year for tertiary-educated individuals between the ages of 21 and 45 who have worked for at least three months in their present position and are employed in jobs classified as having ANZSCO Skill Levels 1-3.

IECSEP is a 2-year pilot programme. There will be a cap of 1000 spots in 2023–2024 and an additional 2000 spots in 2024–2025.

IECSEP is now accepting applications. The deadline for submissions is November 20, 2023.

To be eligible for the IECSEP, candidates must have an employment offer from an Australian employer that they must keep for the duration of their visa.

The applicant’s UK employer and any cooperating Australian firm may offer placements, secondments, graduate rotations, or intra-company transfers. IECSEP applicants also have the option of starting a new job in Australia. Candidates who will operate in regulated jobs in Australia must hold valid, unrestricted Australian occupational licences.

South Australia Migration Update

The GSM programme at Migration SA is now open, according to their announcement.

The SA Skilled Occupations List for 2023–24 has been released.

The limited number of nomination spots will accept Registrations of Interest (ROI) from prospective applicants who reside and work in the state. This implies that potential candidates must submit a ROI and get an invitation from South Australia to apply for state nomination. Candidates cannot immediately submit an application for state nomination.

Priority will be given to retaining South Australia’s foreign graduates and temporary visa holders.

Invitations to apply for South Australian nomination will be sent to experienced foreign employees with expertise in fields with strong demand in South Australia, such as trades and construction, defence, health, education, natural and physical science, and social and welfare professionals.

Trades Recognition Australia – Electricians

Updated information on the requirements for electricians’ skills assessments has been given by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA).  This information was created in response to the recent discovery that prospective migrants who were electricians were given false information regarding credentials obtained entirely or partially through RPL and were left without a clear path to skilled migration to Australia.

TRA is the authorised assessing authority for the occupations of Electrician (General) and Electrician (Special Class), providing skills assessment services for migration and skills recognition. TRA provides assessment services through the following programmes, depending on the applicant’s circumstances for both occupations:

Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) skills assessment program

For candidates from listed countries requesting a TSS visa, including those in the occupations of Electrician (General) or Electrician (Special Class), the TSS programme offers skills evaluations. The programme also helps qualified candidates who apply as Electricians (General) and Electricians (Special Class) obtain the necessary licences to practise their line of work once in Australia.

Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP)

For applicants looking for a permanent migration visa that requires a skills evaluation, the OSAP offers a pathway. For those wishing to apply as an Electrician (General) or Electrician (Special Class), the OSAP is required. A licence to operate as an electrician in Australia is facilitated by passing the OSAP skills assessment for Electrician (General) and Electrician (Special Class).

Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR)

The OTSR is a document given to migrant applicants who have successfully passed a skills assessment through one of the aforementioned programmes and are seeking licences in a licenced trade (including electrical). It was created in 2006 as a step on the road to occupational licencing in Australia for candidates who had completed their education or work abroad as part of a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) pre-migration skill assessment pilot.

Further Information: Please contact TRA at TRAOutsourcedPrograms@dewr.gov.au or the relevant Australian state and territory electrical regulatory authority. The Electrical Licensing page on the TRA website provides information and contact details for each Australian state and territory electrical regulatory authority. 

Daniel Andrews resigns as premier of Victoria

Daniel Andrews has announced his resignation as the Victorian premier, after nearly nine years in office.

The announcement was made at a snap press conference outside parliament on Tuesday and comes after prolonged media speculation about his future. Andrews’ deputy, Jacinta Allan, later confirmed she would run for leadership of the Victorian Labor party.

Andrews was joined by his wife, Catherine, and their sons, Noah and Joseph, as he said he would resign as both premier and the member for Mulgrave, effective 5pm Wednesday.

“When it is time, it is time,” he said.

Jacinta Allan presents united front after earlier leadership chaos 

Incoming Victorian premier Jacinta Allan says the new leadership of the party is “very keen” and enjoyed unanimous support of the caucus in response to questioning about potential disunity after newly-appointed deputy Ben Carroll had also contended for the top job. 

“We’ve walked out of the Labor Party parliamentary room as I’ve been supported unanimously by my colleagues, as has been for the position of deputy,” she told reporters. “And we are very keen.” 

Mr Carroll said he was “certainly looking forward to working closely with her as the deputy premier”. 

“I can’t wait to roll up the sleeves and get on and support this new leadership team.”