The South Australian Government has long been a keen and welcoming participant in Australia’s skilled migration program.

Go Matilda Visas encourages intending skilled migrants to review the SA wanted skilled occupations list, and to consider applying to the SA Government for nomination where their occupation has been identified as being in need in the State.

The SA Government’s website contains a list of occupations derived from the Consolidated Skilled Occupation List (CSOL) that are considered critical to the state of South Australia. Occupations on this list meet a minimum skill level, and are in demand in South Australia.

The list is updated annually and includes occupations in which locally skilled workers are in short supply.

The SA Government advises that: “Occupations are chosen based on detailed workforce analysis of current skill shortages and the likely demand of those skills in the future. The analysis involves extensive industry consultation with associations and industry-linked training councils. It also takes into account various other criteria such as the age of the workforce, supply from local and international graduates, and interstate migration.”

Those considering applying to the SA Government for sponsorship (or nomination – the terms are interchangeable) should have a migration skills assessment in the occupation for which sponsorship is being sought.

Remember also that sponsorship by a State or Territory Government guarantees that an Expression of Interest lodged with the Department of Immigration will progress to an invitation to apply for a subclass 190 or subclass 489 visa as soon as the State Government confirms sponsorship has been agreed.

The present South Australia wanted skilled occupations list is available here.

Please also feel able to contact us if you are interested in applying for State sponsorship from the SA Government – we’ll be pleased to discuss the procedure, the timeline, etc. Complete the form on this page and we’ll contact you.

Education professionals looking for an Australian visa to give them a fresh new chapter to their lives down under are in for some great news this UK summer.

The new Australian migration year running from July 2014 until June 2015 is now upon us, and the Australian Government has confirmed that early year (pre-primary) school teachers, primary school teachers and secondary school teachers are all in demand in Australia.

Opportunities exist for teachers of all age groups to explore a career in sunnier climes, where former education secretary Michael Gove is nowhere to be found!

All three central teaching age-groups have retained their place on Australia’s Skilled Occupations List, potentially allowing for applications to be made for independent visas that allow permanent unrestricted work, and residency rights in Australia.

Go Matilda Visas is one of the UK’s most trusted migration agencies, and our consultants are on hand to offer free, no-obligation consultations to advise on your Australian visa options. Our team of experts would love to assist you through the complex process of migration and help get your new life off to a successful, stress-free start. Call us today on +44 (0)2380 30 25 25, or complete the form on this page.

The NSW Government is to sponsor all occupations on the Skilled Occupations List (the SOL) – applications open on Monday 14th July, 2014:

More details are here.

With a limit of 1,000 applications per intake and 4 intakes per year if you have an occupation on the SOL and want sponsorship from the NSW Government we recommend that you lodge an application as soon as possible after the application intake opens.

Visa type: Permanent residence visa (subclass 190)

Points required: minimum of 60 (including the 5 available from the NSW sponsorship)

NSW requirements:

Occupation on the NSW Skilled Occupation List
Meet DIBP basic requirements including:
> Under 50 years of age
> Current and positive skills assessment
> Competent English language ability

Conditions: Live and work in NSW for the first two years of your visa

If you would like to know more contact your nearest Go Matilda Visas office for a free initial discussion.

Today’s The Australian newspaper reports:

The Abbott government will slash the number of foreign accountants able to get permanent visas but local dentists have failed in a bid to impose new restrictions on their overseas counterparts working in Australia.

But the number of graduates employed full-time has fallen 20 per cent over the past years, including a 6.1 per cent fall between 2012-13.

If you are an Accountant and want to migrate to Australia we recommend that you secure an expedited skills assessment, and ensure you are claiming all the points you reasonably can if you are not going for a State sponsored skilled visa.

Complete the form on this page if you are an accountant and want to give yourself the best chance of obtaining a skilled visa allowing you to move to Australia. An initial discussion is without charge; our fees are fixed in amount and are payable in stages if you decide to instruct us.

The Australian (one of the two Australian national newspapers) is reporting today that chefs, bricklayers and tilers are to be added to the SOL.

Coalition opens way for foreign chefs, brickies

“THOUSANDS of foreign chefs, bricklayers and tilers will no longer have to be sponsored by employers to obtain permanent visas, as the Abbott government eases skilled migration rules to address alleged labour shortages.

Under changes backed by business groups, the three professions have been added to the Skilled Occupation List from July, meaning these workers will be able to apply for a permanent visa without requiring a sponsor.

Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Michaelia Cash said the addition of the three professions would be welcomed in regional areas where there was increased demand for these jobs but “a decrease in apprenticeship completions’’.

“As an island nation with a small population, a sustainable human capital strategy for Australia must be readily available to safeguard business from labour and skills shortages,’’ Senator Cash said.

“However, it would be simplistic to say that there is always an Australian willing and available to fill a particular position in various geographical locations within Australia, and it is the role of the skilled migration program to fill the gap.’’

Under the general skilled migration program, professionals and other skilled migrants can enter Australia without being sponsored by an employer. While they have to nominate an occupation on the skilled occupation list, there is no obligation for them to work in that occupation.

The government has capped the program at 43,990 skilled visas next financial year. For each of the professions on the list, the number of positions available is capped at 6 per cent of the occupation’s workforce.

Senator Cash said the government had decided to set the cap for chefs at 3 per cent for an initial six months.

According to the ABS Labour Force survey, about 76,100 chefs, 23,360 bricklayers and 15,800 floor and wall tilers work in Australia.

Under the 3 per cent cap, up to 2283 overseas chefs could apply for a place in the program, rising to 4566 if the cap went to 6 per cent. For bricklayers, the maximum number would be 1401, and 948 for floor and wall tilers.

Senator Cash stressed the changes would not result in thousands of extra foreign workers coming to Australia. Given total places remained capped at the same level, the entry of additional chefs, bricklayers and tilers would result in less places being approved among the existing 188 occupations on the list.”

While we have yet to see the formal announcement of changes to the Skilled Occupations List, The Australian is a well regarded source of news. If you are a Chef, a Bricklayer, or a Wall and Floor Tiler, want to migrate to Australia, and have at least the minimum required points for a general skilled visa – ie 60 points or more – GM Skilled encourages you to progress your skills assessment straightaway, so you are in a position to lodge an Expression of Interest at the earliest opportunity.

Contact your nearest GM Skilled office or complete the enquiry form on this page to discuss your situation, your visa option, and how we might help.

Our fees are agreed in advance, are fixed in amount, and payable in instalments.

Note: At present these 3 occupations are on the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List, or CSOL. Individuals with an occupation that is on the CSOL and not on the SOL require sponsorship from an employer or a State/Territory Government to be able to migrate to Australia.