Regional and State/Territory Specific Schemes
Presentation Outline
 Australian Government and State Government Responsibilities
 Northern Territory Government Sponsorship for General Skilled Migration
(GSM) Visas
 Occupation assessments for TRA and VETASSESS
 GSM pathways for CDU International Graduates
 Employer Sponsored Visa options
 GSM future directions - SkillSelect
Australia’s Government – Migration
Six States & Two Territories make up the Commonwealth of Australia.
 The Commonwealth
Government is responsible for
making laws on some issues,
while State/Territories
Governments retain all other
law-making rights.
 The Commonwealth
Government generally has
responsibility for laws on
matters affecting the whole of
Australia. For example: money,
postal & telephone services,
international relations,
immigration, quarantine, and
defence.
 State governments influence
migration policy & facilitate
migration by participating in
state specific and regional
migration programs.
The Northern Territory and Regional Migration
The whole of the Northern Territory, including its capital
Darwin, is regional for migration purposes.
Regional and State/Territory Specific Schemes
Skilled – Sponsored or Skilled Regional Sponsored
The Northern Territory State Migration Plan enables the Northern
Territory Government (Department of Business and Employment) to
sponsor people whose skilled occupations are:
• Listed on the NT’s State Migration Plan or
• An ‘off list’ nomination. To be eligible for an “off list” nomination an
applicant’s occupation must be on the SOL Schedule 2. A CDU
student applicant seeking an “off list” nomination by the NT must
demonstrate their employability in the NT.
Applicants for one of the General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas who
have State Government sponsorship have 2nd highest priority for visa
processing by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
Regional & State/Territory Specific Schemes
The NT Government will nominate all eligible students who have
completed two years study at the CDU (and have positive skills
assessments for either:

Skilled Sponsored; or

Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional).
To be nominated by the NT Government applicants, including eligible
CDU graduates, whose occupations are not on the DIAC endorsed
NT State Migration Plan must show that they have positive
employment prospects or are in employment (in their skilled
occupation) in the Northern Territory.
Applicants sponsored by the NT Government must give an
undertaking to live and work in the NT for no less than two years from
when their visa is granted.
Eligibility Criteria - Onshore General Skilled Migration
To be eligible to apply for one of the onshore General Skilled
Migration visas applicants must:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Successfully graduate with Diploma, Degree or higher qualification
following two years of full time study while in an Australian campus
Have a positive skills assessment by the relevant assessment body
for an eligible occupation
Be under 50 years of age at the time they lodge their visa application
Have an IELTS score of no less than 6 on each of the four IELTS
testing bands
Achieve no less than a score of 65 points on the General Skilled
Migration Points Test
If applying for a Skilled Sponsored or Skilled Regional Sponsored
visa have sponsorship from a State or Territory Government.
General Skilled Migration – Points Test (1July 2011)
Description
Points
Factor
Age
English language * or equivalent
standard in a specified test)
Australian or overseas skilled
employment in nominated
occupation or a closely related
occupation undertaken in the
past 10 years
Note: Maximum points that can
be awarded for any combination
of Australian or overseas skilled
employment is 20 points
18–24
25
25–32
30
33–39
25
40–44
15
45–49
0
Competent English - IELTS 6*
0
Proficient English - IELTS 7*
10
Superior English - IELTS 8*
20
One year in Australia
5
Three years in Australia
10
Five years in Australia
15
Eight years in Australia
20
Three years overseas
5
Five years overseas
10
Eight years overseas
15
General Skilled Migration – Points Test (1July 2011)
Factor
Qualifications (Australian or recognised
overseas)
Description
Points
Australian Diploma or trade qualification or
other qualification recognised by a relevant
Assessing Authority
10
At least a Bachelor degree
15
Doctorate
20
Australian study requirement
Minimum two years full-time (Australian study
requirement)
5
Study in a regional area
Must meet the Australian Study Requirement
while studying in a regional area
5
Professional Year
Completion of a recognised Professional Year
5
Credentialed Community language
NAATI accreditation
5
Partner skills
Primary applicants partner meets threshold
requirements for skilled migration visa
5
Nomination by state/territory government
(subclass 176 or 886 visa)
Nomination by a state or territory government
under a state migration plan
5
Designated area sponsorship or nominated by
state/territory government (subclass 475 or
487 visa)
Sponsorship by an eligible relative living in a
designated area or nomination by a state or
territory government under a state migration
plan
10
Occupational Assessment for International Students
Skills assessments for a large number of occupations changed
from 1 July 2010.
Trade Skills
Trade Recognition Australia (TRA) now requires international
graduates who are applying for permanent or provisional residency
nominating a trade occupation to be ‘Job Ready’. The TRA Job
Ready Program is a four step process
Professions assessed by VETASSESS
International student graduates seeking assessments from
VETASSESS must meet new assessment criteria including having
a relevant Australian level qualification and no less than one year’s
experience in the skilled occupation for which they are to be
assessed
Other Professions
Some changes to assessments conducted by the professional
bodies e.g. Accountants
Skills Testing for Trades Onshore Graduates
Provisional Skills Assessment for Graduate Skilled (subclass 485) can only be used for this visa subclass application.
Must register online through the Job Ready Online Application.
Skills Testing for Trades Onshore Graduates
Trade Recognition Australia’s Job Ready Program is a four step
process:
Step 1: Apply for a Provisional Skills Assessment. With this provisional
skills assessment students can only apply for a Subclass 485 Skilled
Graduate (18 month temporary visa)
Step 2: Complete the Job Ready Employment. A subclass 485 visa will
give applicants 18 months to complete the 12 months of full time
employment required to gain skills & Australian work experience
Step 3: Complete a Job Ready Workplace Assessment. Demonstrate
the trade skills in the workplace to a TRA approved assessor.
Step 4: Apply for a Job Ready Final Assessment. Submit all the
evidence required during Steps 1 to 3 to apply for a final assessment
required to apply for permanent migration under one of the GSM visas
General Professional Assessment by VETASSESS
Recent International Student Graduates who intend to apply
for a Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 485)
For a VETASSESS assessment applicants are now required to have not less than
12 months employment in the occupation they nominate. VETASSESS offers a
‘qualifications only assessment’ for applicants applying for the Subclass 485
Skilled Graduate visa.
Step 1:Apply for a ‘qualifications only’ assessment. Applicants need a
qualification which is comparable to the AQF Bachelor Degree in a field of study
highly relevant to the occupation they nominate may only nominate managerial,
administrative, or professional occupations on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
from Group A or B.
Step 2: Apply for Subclass 485 visa to gain sufficient relevant employment
experience to apply for a full Skills Assessment from VETASSESS
Step 3
Apply to migrate under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) or Employer
Nomination Scheme (ENS).
General Professional Assessment by VETASSESS
Recent Australian graduates can only apply for a Subclass 485 visa
if they nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List from Group A or B.
Group A Occupations:
• AQF Bachelor degree (in a highly relevant field to the nominated occupation) and at least
one year in last five years skilled employment in closely related field.
Group B Occupations:
• AQF Bachelor degree (in a highly relevant field to the nominated occupation) and at least
one year in last five years skilled employment in closely related field. Either two or three
years of relevant employment if the qualification/s has a shortfall in content relevance.
Applicants who have occupations in Group C and D cannot apply for
assessments for the Subclass 485 visa
Group C Occupations:
AQF Diploma, in a highly relevant field to the nominated occupation and at least one year
in last five years skilled employment in closely related field. Two years of such employment
is required if the qualification/s has a shortfall in content relevance.
Group D Occupations:
AQF Certificate IV, in a highly relevant field and at least one year in last five years skilled
employment in closely related field. Two years of such employment is required if the
qualification/s has a shortfall in content relevance.
VETASSESS PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATION GROUPS
GROUP A OCCUPATIONS (Examples)
GROUP B OCCUPATIONS (Examples)
ANZSCO
Occupation
ANZSCO
Occupation
221213
Accountant Internal
225111
Agricultural
225113
224711
Advertising
Specialist
Marketing Specialist
Management
Consultant
Information and
Organisation
Professionals nec
Environmental Health
Officer
Graphic Designer
Hotel or Motel Manager
(Degree level)
Auditor
234111
Consultant
234112
411711
234313
Scientist
242211
Teacher
232611
Agricultural
Scientist
Community Worker
Environmental
Research
224999
Vocational
232411
141311
Urban and
Education
Regional
Planner
251311
VETASSESS PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATION GROUPS
GROUP C OCCUPATIONS (Examples)
ANZSCO
Occupation
312111
Architectural
Draftsperson
312112
Building
Associate
312113
Building Inspector
411214
Dental Therapist
141311
Hotel or Motel
Manager
(Diploma
level)
512111
Office Manager
GROUP D OCCUPATIONS (Examples)
ANZSCO
Occupation
312999
312212
312912
Building and
Engineering
Technicians nec
Civil Engineering
Technician
Metallurgical and
Materials Technician
Transitional Arrangements
When the Commonwealth Minister for Immigration and
Citizenship announced changes to the Skilled Occupation List
and the GSM Points Test.
These transitional arrangements in place for international
students who:
•
•
Held a Graduate Skilled visa as at 8 February 2010 or
Had applied for a Graduate Skilled visa before 8 February 2010
The transitional arrangements will only apply to applicants who lodge
their visa applications before 1 January 2013.
The Northern Territory State Migration Plan
•
State/Territory sponsored applicants under the GSM will be given
priority by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for visa
processing – Group 2 processing priority
•
Overall the NT Government has approximately 1000 visa places available
for nomination under NT SMP in 2011-12
•
The NT SMP is reviewed with DIAC every six months
•
Occupations on the NT SMP are revised each year in line with the
release of the Northern Territory Occupation Shortage List – usually
March/April
The Northern Territory Advantage
Eligible CDU students will continue to be able to apply for nomination from the
NT Government for:
SKILLED SPONSORED. (Permanent Residence Visa)
Occupations on the NT SMP or ‘off list’ occupations provided the applicant can
demonstrate positive employment prospects in their skilled occupation.
SKILLED REGIONAL SPONSORED. (Provisional Visa leading to Permanent
Residence)
Occupations not on the NT SMP or demonstrated connections to the NT
EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS.
Many international students will need to show employment experience in their
skilled occupation before they can gain a full occupation assessment.
There are good employment prospects for skilled graduates in many
occupations in the NT.
Employer Sponsored Visa Options

Permanent Residence:
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS):
This Employer Nomination visa applies to employers in regional
Australia including the whole of the NT. RSMS provides concessions to
regional employers to sponsor employees to full time employment where they
cannot employ from within the local labour market.
The NT requires nominated applicants for RSMS to be paid market salary
rates.

Temporary Residence subclass 457 visa:
Employers can sponsor skilled overseas workers to meet skill shortages on
temporary work visas for periods between one month and four years.
SkillSelect
SkillSelect is scheduled for introduction by DIAC
on 1 July 2012.
Under the SkillSelect model people wishing to migrate
under the General Skilled Migration Program will:
• lodge relevant information into the system
• apply to State/Territory Governments for nomination
and then lodge their information into the DIAC system
Of all the potential migrants who lodge Expressions of Interest
only those candidates who are invited by DIAC to lodge visa
applications will be assessed for migration.
Seeking Assistance or Advice
Please make an appointment if you want to discuss your case with the one
of the Business and Skilled Migration team.
Please note: We cannot predict future changes to migration policy.
Therefore we will be unable to advise you on your eligibility until you have
almost completed your studies
If you email, please include all the details relevant to your situation. To
provide meaningful advice BSM officers need to have detailed personal
and professional information.
The NT Government provides a migration information service. Students
who have questions about their skills assessment will need to make
contact with the relevant skills assessment bodies.
Thank you
www.migration.nt.gov.au