Annual Update of Skilled Occupation List - 1 July 2013

Annual Update of Skilled Occupation List - 1 July 2013

The Skilled Occupation List

The Skilled Occupation List (SOL) will change from 1 July 2013, with five occupations to be removed. The SOL determines which occupations are eligible for independent and family sponsored skilled migration.
The updated SOL is based on expert advice from the Australian Workforce Productivity Agency (previously known as Skills Australia). The list of occupations reflects the Australian Government's commitment to a skilled migration program that delivers skills in need in Australia. The SOL will continue to deliver a skilled migration program focused on high value skills that will help to address Australia's future skill needs.


Summary of changes to the SOL
The following changes have been applied to the SOL.
Occupations removed from the SOL

ANZSCO Code	Occupation
251511	Hospital Pharmacist
251513	Retail Pharmacist
323111	Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics)
323112	Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical)
323113	Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures)

Occupations on the SOL from 1 July 2013

ANZSCO Code	Occupation
133111	Construction Project Manager
133112	Project Builder
133211	Engineering Manager
133513	Production Manager (Mining)
134111	Child Care Centre Manager
134211	Medical Administrator
134212	Nursing Clinical Director
134213	Primary Health Organisation Manager
134214	Welfare Centre Manager
221111	Accountant (General)
221112	Management Accountant
221113	Taxation Accountant
221213	External Auditor
221214	Internal Auditor
224111	Actuary
224511	Land Economist
224512	Valuer
231212	Ship's Engineer
231213	Ship's Master
231214	Ship's Officer
232111	Architect
232112	Landscape Architect
232213	Cartographer
232214	Other Spatial Scientist
232212	Surveyor
232611	Urban and Regional Planner
233111	Chemical Engineer
233112	Materials Engineer
233211	Civil Engineer
233212	Geotechnical Engineer
233213	Quantity Surveyor
233214	Structural Engineer
233215	Transport Engineer
233311	Electrical Engineer
233411	Electronics Engineer
233511	Industrial Engineer
233512	Mechanical Engineer
233513	Production or Plant Engineer
233611	Mining Engineer (Excluding Petroleum)
233612	Petroleum Engineer
233911	Aeronautical Engineer
233912	Agricultural Engineer
233913	Biomedical Engineer
233914	Engineering Technologist
233915	Environmental Engineer
233916	Naval Architect
234111	Agricultural Consultant
234112	Agricultural Scientist
234113	Forester
234611	Medical Laboratory Scientist
234711	Veterinarian
234912	Metallurgist
234914	Physicist (Medical Physicist only)
241111	Early Childhood (Pre-Primary School) Teacher
241411	Secondary School Teacher
241511	Special Needs Teacher
241512	Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
241513	Teacher of the Sight Impaired
241599	Special Education Teachers nec
251211	Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
251212	Medical Radiation Therapist
251213	Nuclear Medicine Technologist
251214	Sonographer
251311	Environmental Health Officer
251312	Occupational Health and Safety Advisor
251411	Optometrist
252111	Chiropractor
252112	Osteopath
252311	Dental Specialist
252312	Dentist
252411	Occupational Therapist
252511	Physiotherapist
252611	Podiatrist
252712	Speech Pathologist
253111	General Medical Practitioner
253211	Anaesthetist
253311	Specialist Physician (General Medicine)
253312	Cardiologist
253313	Clinical Haematologist
253314	Medical Oncologist
253315	Endocrinologist
253316	Gastroenterologist
253317	Intensive Care Specialist
253318	Neurologist
253321	Paediatrician
253322	Renal Medicine Specialist
253323	Rheumatologist
253324	Thoracic Medicine Specialist
253399	Specialist Physicians nec
253411	Psychiatrist
253511	Surgeon (General)
253512	Cardiothoracic Surgeon
253513	Neurosurgeon
253514	Orthopaedic Surgeon
253515	Otorhinolaryngologist
253516	Paediatric Surgeon
253517	Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
253518	Urologist
253521	Vascular Surgeon
253911	Dermatologist
253912	Emergency Medicine Specialist
253913	Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
253914	Ophthalmologist
253915	Pathologist
253917	Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist
253918	Radiation Oncologist
253999	Medical Practitioners nec
254111	Midwife
254411	Nurse Practitioner
254412	Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
254413	Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
254414	Registered Nurse (Community Health)
254415	Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
254416	Registered Nurse (Development Disability)
254417	Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
254418	Registered Nurse (Medical)
254421	Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
254422	Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
254423	Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
254424	Registered Nurse (Surgical)
254499	Registered Nurse nec
261111	ICT business Analyst
261112	Systems Analyst
261311	Analyst Programmer
261312	Developer Programmer
261313	Software Engineer
263111	Computer Network and Systems Engineer
263311	Telecommunications Engineer
263312	Telecommunications Network Engineer
271111	Barrister
271311	Solicitor
272311	Clinical Psychologist
272312	Educational Psychologist
272313	Organisational Psychologist
272314	Psychotherapist
272399	Psychologists nec
272511	Social Worker
312211	Civil Engineering Draftsperson
312212	Civil Engineering Technician
312311	Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
312312	Electrical Engineering Technician
313211	Radio Communications Technician
313212	Telecommunications Field Engineer
313213	Telecommunications Network Planner
313214	Telecommunications Technical Officer or Technologist
321111	Automotive Electrician
321211	Motor Mechanic (General)
321212	Diesel Motor Mechanic
321213	Motorcycle Mechanic
321214	Small Engine Mechanic
322211	Sheetmetal Trades Worker
322311	Metal Fabricator
322312	Pressure Welder
322313	Welder (First Class)
323211	Fitter (General)
323212	Fitter and Turner
323213	Fitter-Welder
323214	Metal Machinist (First Class)
323313	Locksmith
331112	Stonemason
331211	Carpenter and Joiner
331212	Carpenter
331213	Joiner
332211	Painting trades workers
333111	Glazier
333211	Fibrous Plasterer
333212	Solid Plasterer
334111	Plumber (General)
334112	Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber
334113	Drainer
334114	Gasfitter
334115	Roof plumber
341111	Electrician (General)
341112	Electrician (Special Class)
341113	Lift Mechanic
342111	Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
342211	Electrical Linesworker
342212	Technical Cable Jointer
342313	Electronic Equipment Trades Worker
342314	Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General)
342315	Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class)
399111	Boat Builder and Repairer
399112	Shipwright
411211	Dental Hygienist
411212	Dental Prosthetist
411213	Dental Technician
411214	Dental Therapist

Australia to tighten skilled immigration rules from July 1

A number of changes will be made to 457 visa programme to prevent abuse

By

• Majorie van Leijen

Published Saturday, June 15, 2013

A number of changes will be implemented to the 457 visa programme beginning July 1.




According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIC), the primary aim of the changes is to safeguard the integrity of the program.

The 457 visa program was developed with the purpose to enable employers to fill skills shortages by recruiting qualified overseas workers where appropriately skilled Australians are unavailable.

It is a temporary visa, lending a quick-fix solution to labour shortages. However, over the years, the program has been prone to misuse by employers as well as foreign employees.

As a result, the position of the local employee has been undercut, and the conditions of overseas employees have been neglected in certain cases.

“The 457 program has expanded well above the national employment growth rate, and while most employers are using the subclass 457 appropriately, the nature of the program’s use by some employers indicates that the objectives of the program are not being fully met,” the DIC explained on its website.

“Within the program, significant growth in applications was recorded in 2011-12 from working holiday maker and student visa holders. Many of these subclass 457 visa applicants were nominated to work in occupations and regions which are not experiencing widespread skills shortages, and in some industries, they accounted for over half of total grants. This trend suggests that usage of the program is being increasingly driven by temporary visa holders seeking to remain in Australia instead of the demands of the Australian labour force.”

With the changes to the program, the DIC hopes to increase its capacity to respond to the integrity concerns by strengthening current legislation. The following changes will be introduced by the beginning of next month:

- The position must be a genuine vacancy within the business. When there are concerns the position may have been created specifically to secure a 457 visa without consideration of whether there is an appropriately skilled Australian available, investigation may be carried out;

- DIC may take action against sponsors who engage in discriminatory recruitment practices;

- The market salary exemption threshold will be increased from $80,000 to $50,000 to ensure that higher paid salary workers are not able to be undercut through the employment of overseas labour at a cheaper rate;

- The English language exemptions for certain positions will be removed. In this way 457 visa who have an ongoing position with their employer and want to apply for permanent residence in the long-run will not disadvantaged because of their language ability;

- Applicants who are nominated with a salary greater than $92,000 will continue to be exempted from the English language requirement;

- The requirement for sponsors to train Australians will be strengthened with some amendments, introducing an ongoing and binding requirement to meet training thresholds for the duration of their approved sponsorship;

- Workers with a 457 visa must be engaged with the company through an employment contract, as opposed to a business contract for services;

- Sponsors will solely be responsible for recovery costs.

“The changes will not adversely affect the vast majority of employers who are using the program appropriately. The changes will, however, strengthen the government’s capacity to identify and prevent employer practices that are not in keeping with the purpose of the 457 program,” stated the DIC.

Likewise, existing 457 visa holders will not be affected by the rule, because presumed is that they are already doing the right thing. Potential applicants for the 457 visa program will have to take notice of the rules because they might be required to provide with additional evidence to prove their integrity, the DIC concluded.