The Australian government has released its new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and Consolidated Skilled Occupation List (CSOL) for the coming 12 months. Effective from 1st July, the lists are dominated by trades and IT professions and healthcare occupations, particularly nursing.
The lists identify occupations that would benefit from skilled migration for the purpose of meeting the medium to long term skill needs of the Australian economy.
For the coming 12 months the occupations most in need include motor mechanics, bricklayers, carpenters, painters, chefs, accountants, IT system analysts, developers, programmers, software engineers and programme analysts.
There is also a demand for electrical engineers and mechanical engineers and in the health section for nurses and midwives as well as surgeons and psychiatrists.
The list is assessed annually and takes advice from the Department of Education and Training which is responsible for providing information to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection on the composition of the SOL AND CSOL.
All applicants who are applying for an Independent or Family Sponsored points tested visa or Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) Graduate Work Stream visa must nominate an occupation from the SOL if they are to qualify for a visa. They will also need to demonstrate that they have work experience and/or hold qualifications for the nominated occupation,
Those who require a skills assessment as part of their visa application must contact a relevant assessing authority directly to obtain a skill assessment. The assessing authority will provide all necessary applications forms and associated information relating to the assessment.
You can view the full SOL for the 2016/17 migration year here.
Article by David Fuller