Is Your Occupation on the New Government Skilled Occupation List?

Is Your Occupation on the New Government Skilled Occupation List?

On the 8th February 2010, Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans removed the Migration Occupations on Demand List (MODL).  Its replacement is the highly anticipated Skilled Occupation List (SOL).  The Minister has justified the overhaul of the immigration policy saying that only half of the migrates entering Australia with skills on the MODL will end up employed in their field of choice and a third would either end up unemployed or in a low skill job. 

Senator Evans said the changes would shift our immigration system from a supply driven model to a demand driven system in which migrants sponsored by an employer would get priority.

So what exactly does all this mean?  What’s in and What’s Out?

Out

• The Migration Occupations on Demand List which listed 106 occupations in demand will be removed, and
• Over 20,000 foreigners who applied to migrate to Australia before September 2007 under outdated rules will have their applications revoked and money refunded

In

• A new Skilled Occupations List of high-value professions and trades drawn up by Skills Australia,
• Overall priority to be given to migrants sponsored by an employer,
• More points to qualified high-value professions and trades who have gone to a prestigious university and have more experience and display excellence in English,
• Foreign doctors, nurses, school teachers, engineers and mining professionals who speak excellent English and have jobs previously organised will be Australia’s top priority migrants,
• The Minister having the power to set the maximum number of visas that may be granted to applicants in any one occupation in any one state,
• Individual state and territory migration plans will be developed so they can prioritise their own chosen skilled migrants,

• International students who hold a vocational, higher education or postgraduate student visa can still apply for a permanent visa provided their occupation is on the new Skilled Occupations List. If their occupation is not on the new SOL, they will have until 31 December 2012 to apply for a temporary skilled graduate visa on conclusion of their studies which will allow them to spend up to 18 months in Australia to acquire work experience and search for sponsorship from an employer.

Overall the Rudd Government’s reason for this overhaul in policy is to stay abreast of the changing global market, be responsive to the changes and demands of industry and cater for the future needs of Australia.