Australian Government Announcement

The Australian Government has announced a new skilled occupation list for people in those occupations who are sponsored by an Australian employer to enter Australia to assist in the country’s COVID-19 recovery. This a support mechanism offered to Australian business to fill critical needs.

New Occupations and Requirements

The new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) consists of 17 occupations in the health care, construction and IT sectors.

Visa holders, who have been sponsored by an Australia business in a PMSOL occupation can request an exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions but will be subject to a strict 14 days quarantine on arrival at their own expense.

Employer nominations for new visa applications are required to undergo the labour market testing requirements, which also includes an additional requirement to advertise the role on the Government’s Jobactive website.

The new priority skills list and strengthened labour market testing will allow small numbers of sponsored skilled workers to return to Australia to fill urgent skills needs in critical sectors, helping to create Australian jobs and rebuild Australia’s economy.

What the Government had to say

Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said the changes would strike the right balance for Australia’s economic recovery. “Our priority is getting Australians back into work, but we also need key health workers to help fight the virus and skilled migrants who are going to be job multipliers, to help the economy recover”.

Existing skilled migration occupation lists will remain active and visas will still be processed, however the Minister has directed that the highest priority be given to nominations and visa applications lodged in relation to those occupations specified on the PMSOL.

The 17 occupations (ANZSCO code) are:

• Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)
• Construction Project Manager (133111)
• Mechanical Engineer (233512)
• General Practitioner (253111)
• Resident Medical Officer (253112)
• Psychiatrist (253411)
• Medical Practitioner nec (253999)
• Midwife (254111)
• Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
• Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)
• Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
• Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)
• Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)
• Registered Nurses nec (254499)
• Developer Programmer (261312)
• Software Engineer (261313)
• Maintenance Planner (312911)

 

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Please note that this article has been prepared by Bell Legal Group, for information purposes only. It is not legal advice nor should it be relied upon as such.