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13 Jul 2015

Australia Skilled Occupations List for 2015-16 Released

On Tuesday the 30th of June the skilled occupations list for 2015-16 was announced. If you are considering migrating to Australia it’s important to be aware of these changes and how they might affect your applications. The changes in question affect applications made from the 1st of July with regard to both the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) and the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL). Occupations have been removed from both lists whilst the CSOL has had some new ones added on. Please see below for further details on the modifications to both lists.

Changes to the Skilled Occupations List

The SOL is an annually reviewed list prepared by Skills Australia that applies to certain General Skilled Migration applications. The EOI invitation must have been received on or after the 1st of July 2014. The applications it affects are as follows:

Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Visas
Skilled Regional (Provisional) Subclass 489 visas – if sponsored by an Australian relative
Graduate Temporary Subclass 485 Visas – Graduate Work Stream
Please note that the following positions have been taken off of the SOL:
Urban and Regional Planner 232611
Dental Specialist 252311
Dentist 252312

These positions have been a part of the SOL for a long time which means that anyone working in these fields will be greatly impacted by this chance. Having said that, there is still the possibility for state or employer sponsored options as the positions are still a part of the CSOL.

Many international students will be relieved to learn that accountancy positions have not been taken off of the SOL. Furthermore, two new positions have been appended to the list:
Panelbeater 324111
Cabinetmaker 394111

Changes to the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List

The CSOL is for the following types of visa, provided they are received on or after the 1st of July 2014:
457 Temporary Work (Skilled) – where sponsored via a Standard Business Sponsorship
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) – direct entry stream
State/Territory Sponsored GSM Visas – such as subclass 190 and subclass 489

Initially it was initially published that only one occupations has been taken off of the CSOL, the Primary School Teacher 241213, however this was soon amended and we confirm it was not taken off the list.

Consequently, Primary School Teacher (ANZSCO 241213) is still an eligible occupation for nomination for the following visa programmes from 1 July 2015:

  • Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190)
  • Direct entry stream of Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
  • Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (Subclass 457)
  • Training and Research Visa (Subclass 402)

IMMI 15/109 has the effect of eligible Special Category visa (Subclass 444) and New Zealand Family Relationship (Temporary) visa (Subclass 461) holders being exempt from meeting the skill requirement for the Direct Entry stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186 visa).

IMMI 15/109 also has the effect of Child Care Group Leader (Aus) (Skill level 2) (ANZSCO 421111) being an eligible occupation for nomination under the Direct Entry stream of the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187 visa) from 1 July 2015.

If  you have further queries about this matter in relation to a specific visa, please contact us and we’ll be more than happy to assist.


Sheila Woods

Posted by: Sheila Woods

A very experienced migration agent, Sheila has always been fascinated by this field. Her university degree thesis was on Australia’s post-war immigration history (and it earned her first-class honours).


Filed in: Visas

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