Migration Centre of Australia

Skilled Migration

Update on Skills Assessments for Early Childhood Teachers: AITSL Remains Valid

No need to reapply if you already hold a valid AITSL assessment. In December 2024, the designated skills assessing authority for Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers (ANZSCO 241111) officially changed from AITSL to ACECQA and now the Department has confirmed that existing AITSL assessments remain valid until their expiry date. The Department has confirmed that, for the purposes of the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program — including subclasses 189, 190, and 491 — existing positive skills assessments issued by AITSL will remain valid until their expiry date. There is no need for applicants to obtain a new assessment from ACECQA if their current AITSL assessment is still valid. When lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, candidates can nominate either AITSL or ACECQA as the assessing authority, depending on which one issued their assessment. The same policy applies to subclass 186 Direct Entry (DE) visa applications. A positive AITSL assessment may be accepted if: This update provides clarity and reassurance for early childhood teachers pursuing permanent or provisional migration pathways.
Read more
, , ,

Updated TRA Job Ready Program Processing Times: Faster Turnaround, Clearer Steps

(TRA simplifies processing for skilled migrants navigating the Job Ready Program.) As of 16 May 2025, Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) has introduced updated time estimates for each stage of the Job Ready Program (JRP), making it easier for migrants and agents to plan ahead with confidence. Read More- The revised processing benchmarks include: Confirmation of Registration: After submitting your online application, you’ll receive confirmation of your registration within 45 days. Eligibility for Workplace Assessment: TRA will assess your eligibility to proceed with a Workplace Assessment and provide a decision within 6 months of your application. Workplace Assessment Application: Once your application is lodged: TRA will confirm referral to a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) within 6 weeks. The RTO will contact you within 2 weeks of referral to schedule your assessment. (If you can’t attend the scheduled date, be sure to contact the RTO directly to make changes.) Workplace Assessment Outcome: Assessment results are provided to TRA by the RTO. You’ll be notified of your outcome approximately 11 weeks after the assessment takes place. Final Assessment Invitation: When you’ve completed all participation requirements, TRA will invite you to proceed with the Final Assessment. Document Review: If additional or missing documents are requested, TRA will process them within 14 days of receipt. These changes aim to streamline the pathway to skilled employment, helping applicants move through the process more efficiently. Click here – TRA website
Read more
, ,

CPA Australia Skills Assessment Update: New Products & Fee Structure

From 1 May 2025, CPA Australia has revised product names for skills assessments and implemented a new fee structure based on applicant location — Onshore, Offshore, or Singapore. Several combined services and appeal options have also been discontinued. Agents must now use updated product names and refer to the new pricing when lodging applications. Product Name Changes Previous Product Name New Product Name (from 1 May 2025) Skills assessment application Qualification assessment Fast Track skills assessment application Fast Track – Qualification assessment Skills assessment and skilled employment assessment application Combined assessment – Qualification and skilled employment Skills assessment (Additional ANZSCO code) Qualification assessment – Additional ANZSCO Fast Track skills assessment (Additional ANZSCO code) Fast Track – Qualification assessment Additional ANZSCO Skilled employment assessment Skilled employment assessment Skills assessment and skilled employment assessment (Additional ANZSCO) Combined assessment – Qualification and skilled employment – Additional ANZSCO Skills assessment update Qualification assessment – Update Skilled employment assessment update Skilled employment assessment – Update Skills assessment update and skilled employment assessment No longer offered Skills assessment appeal Review Skilled employment assessment appeal No longer offered Skills assessment appeal and skilled employment assessment No longer offered Administration fee (withdrawal or reissue) Administration fee Updated Fees by Applicant Location (AUD) Service Onshore Offshore Singapore Qualification assessment $565 $514 $560 Fast Track – Qualification assessment $675 $614 $669 Combined assessment – Qualification and skilled employment $620 $564 $615 Qualification assessment – Additional ANZSCO $260 $236 $257 Fast Track – Qualification assessment Additional ANZSCO $310 $282 $307 Skilled employment assessment $260 $236 $257 Combined assessment – Additional ANZSCO $350 $318 $347 Qualification assessment – Update $185 $168 $183 Skilled employment assessment – Update $185 $168 $183 Review (appeal) $185 $168 $183 Administration fee $85 $77 $84 Important Points to Remember Use updated product names for all applications submitted after 1 May 2025. The following services are no longer offered: Skills assessment update and skilled employment assessment Skilled employment assessment appeal Skills assessment appeal and skilled employment assessment Fees are now based on applicant location (onshore, offshore, or Singapore). Click here- CPA Australia official Website
Read more
,

ANZSCO: Does it need a revamp?

One crucial criterion of skilled visas is that they require visa applicants to work in a particular occupation. This process of identifying the occupation happens at the very start of the process and is done with reference to the ANZSCO dictionary of job descriptions. However, there are many pitfalls with this process. Often, the process of choosing an occupation is not given as much attention as it should be, which can then cause a plethora of problems down the track. Choosing the correct occupation to nominate is critical in ensuring you meet the visa requirements. It should be: an accurate reflection of the role to be performed; and appropriate to the applicant’s skills and qualifications. How do you identify an occupation to nominate? When assessing an application, the Department of Home Affairs uses the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) dictionary to source the description of a particular occupation and its core tasks. This means that when choosing an occupation to nominate, it is important that the occupation is both on the relevant government skills list and is identified by an ANZSCO code. The ANZSCO dictionary includes both an occupation title and a list of tasks and responsibilities that would normally be performed by a person working in that occupation. When choosing an occupation to nominate, the list of tasks and responsibilities to be performed in an applicant’s role must align with the ANZSCO description. What is the problem? However, those unfamiliar with navigating ANZSCO could easily be misled. Often, the title of the occupation does not necessarily appear to match the roles and responsibilities involved. You may find an ANZSCO title that is similar to the occupation to be performed; however, the list of tasks and responsibilities may in fact be different. Therefore, is important not to simply nominate an occupation because the titles seem to match. For this reason, the skilled visa nomination system could be improved with an enhanced skills list. How can it be improved? These roles require occupation-specific, technical or global skills and experience that are more clearly aligned with the respective occupations. In order to do this, the Department could consult with industry to refine the skills and tasks lists. Proactive engagement with business to enable more occupation-specific lists not currently reflected in the ANZSCO will help migration agents and future visa applicants feel more confident with their applications and avoid mistakes in the future. Reviews should occur annually to provide greater certainty for applicants and migration agents who are assisting them in making the decision. The skills lists should be suitably updated to provide greater detail for applicants who are for instance, relying on the list to create training plans or skill assessments for 407 Training Visas. While the codes are useful for categorising most occupations, they are not good at capturing the current skills and tasks in those occupations. At Migration Centre of Australia, we are well-trained to handle skilled migration matters. Book one of our agents for professional advice by calling 02 4626 1002 or email us to book in a time at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au. We also speak fluent Hindi, Nepalese, Punjabi, Turkish, Tamil, Portuguese and Marathi. If one of these isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
Read more
, , ,

Labour Market Testing – Changes & Updates August 2018

What is Labour Market Testing? Testing the Labour Market means determining whether the employer has tried to fill the vacant position with an Australian before offering the position to an overseas employee. LMT plays a crucial role when it comes to applying for the TSS Visa (subclass 482) and you need to provide evidence when you apply for the visa. As of the 12th of August 2018, LMT requirements vary depending on whether the nomination is for a “select position” or not. There have also been changes made to advertising requirements and time period. Are there any alternatives? For the positions below, alternative requirements apply. It is necessary, however, to provide a submission from the employer explaining why the position couldn’t be filled with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible temporary visa holder. Alternative Requirements are: A position that needs to be filled by a person with internationally recognised records/ achievements in: Sport Academia and Research Top talent Chef A position that needs to be filled by an individual who is employed by a company/organisation that is operating an already established business outside Australia and the sponsor is an associated entity of that company that is operating in Australia. A Position that is currently held by a TSS 482 visa holder, and a new nomination has been lodged because there have been changes in the annual earnings of the visa holders or changes in the business structure A position in the ANZSCO group of [253] Medical practitioners that is not [2531111] General Medical Practitioner or [253999] Medical Practitioners nec and [4111] Ambulance Officers and Paramedics How to advertise? Unless the above condition of “select position” applies, evidence must be provided to show that the position has been advertised for as follows: The position has been advertised in Australia in English and included: Job Title/ Job Description Skills/ or Experience required for this position Name of approved sponsor or recruitment agency Annual earnings (unless higher than High Income Threshold of $AUD 96,4000 At least 2 advertisements were published in ANY of the following: On a prominent and national recruitment website (e.g. jobactive.gov.au) In nation-wide print media (published at least month throughout Australia) On national radio On the business’s website if the sponsor is an accredited sponsor Advertisements will have to have been published for at least 4 weeks. Applications must have also been accepted for at least 4 weeks. The Evidence of LMT must be provided when lodging the application (unless international trade obligations apply). International Trade Obligations LMT is not required if: The employee is a citizen/national of China, Japan or Thailand or citizen/national/permanent resident of Chile, South Korea, New Zealand or Singapore The employee is currently working for a business that is an associated entity of the sponsoring business and is in located in Association of South-East Asian Nations The nominated applicant is currently working for an associated entity of the sponsoring business which is operating in a country that is a member of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) with the nominated occupation being Executive or Senior Manager occupation for the purposes of international trade obligations and the nominee will be accountable for either the entire or a substantial part of the company’s operations in Australia The sponsoring business operates in a WTO member country or territory and wishes to set up a business in Australia and the nominated occupation would be Executive or Senior Manager occupation for the purposes of international trade obligations The nominated employee is a citizen of a WTO member country or territory and he/she has worked for the sponsor in the nominated position in Australia on a full-time basis for the last 2 years. More Information: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/work/empl/tss-labour-market-testing
Read more
,

Occupation Ceilings 2018-2019

Occupation ceilings is the maximum number of invitations that are sent for any occupation group. The occupation ceilings announced by the Department of Home Affairs for 2018-2019 has not changed in numbers compared to 2017-2018. However, it seem to have hit Accountants. The reason behind that is that the quota or occupational ceiling for Accountants (4785) does not only reflect subclass 189 and 489 but includes all other skilled visa categories (482, 186, 187, 190). This does not apply for other occupations as occupation ceilings do not apply to Employer Sponsored Visas, Business Innovation and Investment Visas or State or Territory Nominated Visas. In the first invitation round on 11 July 2018 (all invitation rounds are not held monthly on the 11th of each month) Accountants only received 35 invitations compared to almost 717 in the first three invitations rounds of last year. The cut off points score for accounts is also anything but rosy at 85 points. Occupation Ceilings for the 2018 – 2019 program year   Occupation ID Description Occupation Ceiling Value 2018-19 Invitations to 11/07/2018 1213 Livestock Farmers 4196 0 1331 Construction Managers 5400 3 1332 Engineering Managers 1155 2 1341 Child Care Centre Managers 1000 0 1342 Health and Welfare Services Managers 1374 0 2211 Accountants* 4785 36 2212 Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers* 1327 13 2241 Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians 1000 4 2245 Land Economists and Valuers 1000 3 2247 Management consultant 3285 19 2321 Architects and Landscape Architects 1474 22 2322 Cartographers and Surveyors 1000 4 2331 Chemical and Materials Engineers 1000 42 2332 Civil Engineering Professionals 3296 105 2333 Electrical Engineers 1042 48 2334 Electronics Engineers* 1000 3 2335 Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers* 2178 17 2339 Other Engineering Professionals* 1000 7 2341 Agricultural and Forestry Scientists 1000 15 2346 Medical Laboratory Scientists 1487 9 2347 Veterinarians 1000 12 2349 Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals 1000 3 2411 Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers 2639 26 2414 Secondary School Teachers 7910 34 2415 Special Education Teachers 1000 0 2512 Medical Imaging Professionals 1113 1 2514 Optometrists and Orthoptists 1000 0 2519 Other Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals 1000 0 2521 Chiropractors and Osteopaths 1000 4 2524 Occupational Therapists 1109 5 2525 Physiotherapists 1464 12 2526 Podiatrists 1000 0 2527 Speech Professionals and Audiologists 1000 10 2531 General Practitioners and Resident Medical officers 3495 34 2533 Internal Medicine Specialists 1000 2 2534 Psychiatrists 1000 0 2535 Surgeons 1000 2 2539 Other Medical Practitioners 1000 68 2541 Midwives 1090 3 2544 Registered Nurses 16741 105 2611 ICT Business and Systems Analysts* 1574 14 2613 Software and Applications Programmers* 6202 69 2621 Database and Systems Administrators and ICT Security Specialists 2391 72 2631 Computer Network Professionals* 1318 21 2633 Telecommunications Engineering Professionals 1000 88 2711 Barristers 1000 0 2713 Solicitors 4161 18 2723 Psychologists 1750 6 2725 Social Workers 1562 18 3122 Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians 1000 1 3123 Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians 1000 0 3132 Telecommunications Technical Specialists 1000 2 3211 Automotive Electricians 1000 0 3212 Motor Mechanics 5980 5 3222 Sheetmetal Trades Workers 1000 0 3223 Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers 4426 2 3232 Metal Fitters and Machinists 5330 1 3233 Precision Metal Trades Workers 1000 0 3241 Panelbeaters 1344 0 3311 Bricklayers and Stonemasons 1271 0 3312 Carpenters and Joiners 6968 3 3322 Painting Trades Workers 2780 1 3331 Glaziers 1000 0 3332 Plasterers 2103 0 3334 Wall and Floor Tilers 1407 0 3341 Plumbers 5507 1 3411 Electricians 9354 7 3421 Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics 1427 0 3422 Electrical Distribution Trades Workers 1000 0 3423 Electronics Trades Workers 1878 2 3513 Chefs 2675 6 3941 Cabinetmakers 1905 0 3991 Boat Builders and Shipwrights 1000 0  
Read more
,

Occupations Lists for all States (Update August 2018)

Below you will find all current and updated lists for all Australian States on one page (Update August 2018). All lists are available for download by clicking on the underlined text. New South Wales The latest skilled occupations list for New South Australia was published in July: NSW-Priority-skilled-occupation-list-2018-19 489 Visa – Individual Region Lists for Skilled Migration Orana Skills List Central West (no application before 20 August 2018) Mid North Coast Murray Skills List Northern Inland Skills List Riverina Skills List Southern Inland Skills List Victoria The State of Victoria has updated its lists on 2 July 2018. For International Student Graduates, the following lists apply: Graduate occupations eligible to apply for Victorian visa nomination. If you wish to apply to work and live in Australia as a skilled migrant, the following list applies: Visa Nomination Occupation List for Victoria Queensland The Queensland state occupation list is divided into 4 different lists: A List for applicants already working in Queensland: Queensland – Onshore Occupations List A List for applicants that are currently overseas: Queensland – Offshore Occupations List A list for students graduating from a Master’s Degree from a QLD University: Master Graduate – Occupation List Queensland South Australia The state of South Australia updated their occupation list in July 2018 and made a few additions. The state of South Australia has two lists: The State Nominated Occupation List and the Supplementary Skilled List with 297 occupations. The State Nominated Occupation List is available to all applicants, including international graduates of SA. The Supplementary Skilled List shows occupations that are on the STSOL but are not on the State Occupations List for South Australia. For this list additional requirements apply. Tasmania Following two occupations are removed from the Tasmanian State occupation list 251513 – Retail Pharmacist 251511 – Hospital Pharmacist However in July 2018 further occupations were added, such as Sales and Marketing Manager, Speech Pathologist and ICT Business Analyst: Tasmanian Skilled Occupations List. The Tasmanian government committed to processing nomination for subclasses 489 and 190 visas for no fee. There are also no occupation ceilings.  Northern Territory (NT) If you are living in the Northern Territory the following lists may apply to you: Northern Territory Occupations List Australian Capital Territory (ACT) You can find the ACT Occupations List and information on open and closed occupation here: ACT Occupations List Western Australia Western Australia’s occupation did not have any changes: Western Australia Occupations List Contact Us
Read more

Migration Centre of Australia (MCA) Your trusted partner for Australian immigration. We simplify visas, skilled migration, sponsorships, and more—so you can focus on your future.

Contact Info

+61 2 4626 1002
info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au
Suite 6, Level 12, 101 Bathurst Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Book Consultation
By Appointment Only

Brisbane  Office:

200 Mary St, Brisbane City QLD 4000, Australia

Melbourne Office:

Ground Level, 161 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Follow Us