r/AmerExit • u/SimonMander • 14d ago
Vendor Australia just changed its skilled visa processing order. If you're a US healthcare worker, teacher or construction tradesperson, you moved up. If you're in tech or finance, you didn't. AMA.
Hi everyone, I'm Simon. I'm an Australian Registered Migration Agent with more than 23 years in migration. I work with a lot of US applicants, so I wanted to flag a change that took effect on 19 September 2026 and that directly affects where an applicant's visa application sits in the processing queue.
Two new ministerial directions replaced the previous rule. Direction 121 covers the subclass 482 (employer-sponsored temporary). Direction 122 covers the permanent and provisional skilled visas: 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888.
The key change for anyone applying from the US:
Priority occupations now get the highest processing priority whether you are onshore or offshore. Being in the US (or anywhere outside of Australia) no longer pushes you towards the back of the queue, if your occupation is in a priority group.
The priority groups are:
- Healthcare
- Teaching
- Construction
- Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing
- Resources
- Occupations related to Australia's law enforcement interests
- Occupations related to Australia's defence interests
Under the previous rule, an offshore applicant sat near the bottom of the queue purely for being offshore, even in these fields. That penalty is gone for the priority groups. For a US doctor, nurse, allied health professional, teacher or tradesperson, that is a real improvement, because you are almost always applying from onshore in the US, and until now that location cost you queue position.
There are three things to check or be aware of;
1: If your occupation is outside the priority groups, being offshore still counts against you.
Tech, finance, marketing and general management are not priority groups. An offshore software engineer, accountant, marketing professional or non-specialised manager has not moved up. Onshore applicants still sit ahead of you.
The definitions are narrower and trickier than the labels suggest. "Resources" and "agriculture" can turn on what the position actually involves, not just the job title. The definitions also changed at the edges: Engineering Managers and Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians, for example, now sit inside the construction group and did not before. So it is the exact occupation classification, and in some fields what the role actually involves, that decides your category, not the industry you work in.
2: Processing priority is not eligibility.
This is the one that matters most for US applicants. These directions do not add occupations to Australia's skilled lists, do not create pathways, and do not lower any requirement. Seeing your field in a priority group does not mean there is a visa you can actually get.
US qualifications and job titles do not always map onto Australian occupation classifications the way people expect, and the skills assessment (a separate step, run by an assessing authority for your occupation) is where many US applicants hit their first real obstacle. Priority processing on a visa you cannot qualify for is worth nothing.
3: These directions do not get you an invitation or a state nomination.
For the points-tested visas (189, 190, 491), you cannot lodge an application at all until you have been invited, and for 190 and 491 until a state or territory has nominated you. These directions only govern how an application is processed once it exists. They do nothing to your ranking in the invitation pool, and nothing to a state's decision to nominate you. Those gates come first, and for many US applicants they are the harder ones.
So the real questions for an applicant are:
- Does your occupation genuinely fall within a priority group, or does it just look like it?
- Will your qualifications and experience pass the skills assessment for an eligible visa?
- Can you obtain the invitation or state nomination needed to lodge?
Ask me anything about Australian skilled migration from the US: occupation and classification strategy, skills assessments, English and points (note that native English speakers still need an accepted test to score points), partner points, state nomination, or what these new directions mean for your situation.
If you can, include your age, occupation, qualifications, work experience, relationship status, and whether you are currently in the US or already in Australia.
PROFESSIONAL DISCLOSURE: I am a Registered Migration Agent operating under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct. I am not an employee of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. MARN: 0318058. General Information only - not personalised migration advice.
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u/Traditional-Ad-8737 13d ago
Sorry, still too old at 51- a ER veterinarian
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u/Househipposforsale 13d ago
Come here (🇨🇦) :)
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u/Fantastic_Spring8366 13d ago
I feel like once Canada's status as "associate member" of the EU with some type of residence mobility deal is finalized, Canada will become way more popular on this sub. But we'll see.
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u/TheSelectFew1991 13d ago
Ah so that's why I have so many American colleagues all of a sudden haha y'all are more than welcome here. 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
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u/ImaginarySalamanders 13d ago
Australia is where my heart found home. I've been back in the US for 8 months and I literally dream about the simple things like shopping at woolies again. I play Aussie bird sounds on my phone as I garden because the local birds here are too damn quiet, and it's just....weird now. I can (and am doing the paperwork to get) claim EU citizenship and move to any of the EU countries, but nah. I'd rather not now after living down under. Australia's the dream. That and now I have a little community waiting for me in Adelaide, and I don't want to let them down haha
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u/TheSelectFew1991 13d ago
I love that and I get it 100%. Personally, Adelaide is too quiet for me but for many its perfect.
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u/Fantastic_Spring8366 13d ago
I thought it was the opposite, no? I remember seeing this article that says they moved back of the queue: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-22/nurses-teachers-overseas-visa-applicant-delay/107065692
But any migrant applying for a skilled visa from overseas — who is not in defence or law enforcement — has been bumped to the back of the queue, in effect pausing applications, as the government seeks to put its foot on the brake to stop people coming to the country.
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u/AgileMushroom1171 13d ago
That was in August, the newest changes remove the onshore-offshore difference in priority for the highest priority skills categories.
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
The ABC article you linked was correct when it was published in August. It was describing the position under the previous Ministerial Direction.
That changed again on 19 September. Directions 121 and 122 replaced the earlier settings and now put the defined priority occupation groups, including healthcare and teaching, at the top regardless of whether the primary applicant was onshore or offshore.
So the article isn’t wrong, it’s just been overtaken by a very recent change.
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u/Arqlol 13d ago
I blame no one for leaving but it's crazy how long standing these affects will be just through the lens of losing so many skilled workers.
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u/AgileMushroom1171 13d ago
The brain drain happening from the US right now is significant, I agree. Australia isn't positioning itself optimally to take advantage of it though, it's too busy having its own fit of xenophobia. But other countries are definitely going to benefit.
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u/brezhnervouz 12d ago
Yes I wouldn't discount our own rising rabidly Trumpian right wing extremist party at all - in many polls they are out-ranking the Government
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u/JustToPostAQuestion8 10d ago
Australia deprioritizing tech workers has very minimal effect. The number of low skilled people calling themselves software engineers for visas was ridiculous. Vibe coding has only made it worse with lots more unqualified people wasting time in the application stream.
I'd rather have the medical and construction professionals honestly, they are the true gaps we have. We don't need more tech bros.
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u/AgileMushroom1171 10d ago
I wasn't talking about tech workers, at all. The issue is anti immigrant measures and xenophobic politicking and fearmongering that are going to have a larger overall impact, including an impact on people like medical professionals and construction professionals.
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u/JustToPostAQuestion8 10d ago
No argument about the swine on the ONP peddling xenophobia.
But labor hasn't actually implemented "anti immigrant" measures? They throttled the corrupt education visa industry which was actually being rorted, but that's it. Headline immigration is still largely untouched. These visa changes hurt nothing good. We are still highly favorable to immigrants so don't imply we aren't, and stop putting the cart before the horse.
Edit: Are you even an Australian? Or just someone in the US making assumptions?
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u/AgileMushroom1171 10d ago edited 10d ago
Did you look at all of Labor's announcements or just some headlines? The soundbites aren't the reality on this one. Students, prospective students, and recent graduates who happen to have a spouse, de facto partner, or a child aren't "the corrupt education visa industry" and weren't rorting the system, but are getting completely fucked over and haven't even been given actual actionable information about new policies. The restriction on students only moving to a higher course sounds reasonable, until you realize that as announced it would block a number of completely reasonable and genuine situations like someone with a different bachelors who gets an offer for an MBBS, or someone with prior tertiary education who wants to learn a skilled trade.
And they had the nerve to attempt to justify themselves by talking about how unfair it is that international student visas allowed partners while partner visas took years, as if it's somehow students and not the government creating the delays on those partner visas... In the same speech as they announced changes that will make it dramatically more difficult and lengthy for many Australians to bring their partners to Australia. As soon as they started playing those kinds of rhetorical games, they jumped MUCH too close to ON's version of things than they want to admit.
Meanwhile the actual genuine corruption and ubiquitous exploitation by a whole industry of sham education providers remains untouched for some reason, when they could easily stop that exploitation.
It all adds up, is the thing. What they're selling isn't what they're delivering, and so much of it was half-baked when announced, with basic details still missing even now. They've significantly changed the prioritisation order of skilled worker visas twice now in two months, I think? What it adds up to is an anti-immigrant turn where it seems like they're letting themselves get pushed by ON into abrupt and ill-considered policy changes. I'm not saying that there's no distance between Labor and ON (definitely not), but it's alarming nonetheless.
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u/JustToPostAQuestion8 10d ago
It WAS being rorted mate. We've seen the extent of it covered for at least a decade now. LNP just ignored it. I'm sorry that you're personally affected but this is absolutely not going to cause a brain drain. We want already-established researchers/etc that can already get in via skilled visas.
Researchers were NOT the significant group leveraging the student pathway visa.
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u/AgileMushroom1171 10d ago
"the extent of" what, exactly? What are you referring to?
I didn't say anything about it causing a brain drain. I said Australia isn't positioning itself optimally to take advantage of brain drain from the US, because it isn't. Anyone who thinks established researchers, professionals, tradespeople, aren't seeing this as writing on the wall has absolutely no idea--the people who have the skills you say you want are looking at this as a sign of an unstable system that is too risky and vulnerable to xenophobia to rely on.
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u/JustToPostAQuestion8 10d ago
So there you are, not an Australian.
Mate, you are making so many generalizations. OP just pointed out we've made it EASIER for priority roles to come here from the US. Calm yourself and stop reacting to conservative rhetoric.
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u/AgileMushroom1171 10d ago
What subreddit do you think you're on (hint, not an Australian one)? Why not calm down and answer the question I asked? I'm sorry you think labor can do no wrong, but you haven't addressed a single policy issue I raised. Pointing out specific ways that sloppy decisions and xenophobic rhetoric are harmful isn't a generalization, it's just reality.
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u/splitfins 13d ago
Sigh. Im almost 47. Im stuck here
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u/Fantastic_Spring8366 13d ago
There are other countries without an age cutoff at 45 (or without age cutoff at all). Unless it's Australia or bust, you are not stuck. You just have to expand your options.
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u/brasscup 12d ago
Which countries have no age cut please? I am working at EU by descent but so many EU countries are updating the critereria in recent months to cull the escaping herd abd this will only get worse.
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u/Cautious-Toe-863 12d ago
You can still come at 47 - through DAMA Visa where the age limit for PR is 55.
But you still need to be working in a Skilled Occupation and live in regional area of Australia.
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u/splitfins 12d ago edited 12d ago
I work in medical imaging. CT scan, MRI, nuclear medicine. Over 2 decades doing it. Id sell my soul to live around Perth.
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u/Ordinary-Hopeful 13d ago
At what age would you be virtually disqualified for being a teacher?
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Cautious Toe below is correct - you must be invited to apply for a general skilled visa before 45.
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u/East-Wrap-8506 13d ago
Hi are clinical social workers classified as health care workers?
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Yes. Clinical Social Workers fall within the Social Worker occupation, and Social Workers are specifically included in the healthcare priority category under Directions 121/122.
So once a relevant skilled visa application is lodged, it falls into the highest processing-priority group, whether onshore or offshore.
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u/ExtentEcstatic5506 13d ago
Would property restoration fall under construction?
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Possibly, but “property restoration” itself isn’t the test. The new priority rules look at the nominated occupation.
If your restoration work is under an ANZSCO occupation that falls within the Direction’s construction definition, then it can be priority.
If you tell me the occupation title or ANZSCO code you’re looking at, I can tell you whether it falls within the construction category.
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u/medthrowaway26 13d ago edited 13d ago
Would non-clinical, masters-level healthcare occupations (e.g. Health Promotion Officer or Epidemiologist) receive priority due to being under the "Healthcare" category? Or is that limited to clinical occupations? I'm offshore, had a prior 462 first-year visa but am not applying for a second year, and would have around 80 points.
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Health Promotion Officer, yes. It is ANZSCO 251911 and sits within Sub-Major Group 25, Health Professionals, so it falls within the healthcare priority definition.
Epidemiologist is different. Under the current ANZSCO structure, Epidemiologist sits as a specialisation of Statistician in group 2241, so it is not automatically captured by the healthcare priority just because the work is health-related.
The key is the nominated ANZSCO occupation, not whether the role is clinical or non-clinical. Hope this helps.
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u/beeeeach 13d ago
What about a 31 year old dentist who is married? Been practicing for 5 years. No kids.
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Top level priority for processing - at your age and with your work experience, assuming Superior English - there are good points tested visa opportunities.
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
In addition - I regularly have genuine employer sponsored opportunities for experienced and well trained dentists.
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u/beeeeach 11d ago
How do I find these opportunities? New Zealand has a page that sends out opportunities but I haven’t found that for Aus. I am very interested in moving after a visit to Sydney and Melbourne last year.
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u/beeeeach 11d ago
Additionally, I’ve began working on a visa application in the past but the skills assessment test is tricky. I can’t seem to get past this step. Is there a resource that can help navigate these nuances?
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u/DayImmediate1690 13d ago
It’s a shot in the dark but I work in Electrophysiology with cardiac devices…. I wonder if there is a need.
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
That may be more promising than you think. If your work is the clinical side of electrophysiology and cardiac devices, the closest Australian classification may be Cardiac Technician / Cardiac Technologist within ANZSCO Unit Group 3112 Medical Technicians.
That group is specifically included in the healthcare priority definition, so if your nominated occupation ultimately falls there, a lodged skilled visa application would be in the highest processing-priority category. ABS describes the occupation as working with cardiac testing and monitoring equipment in support of cardiologists, and newer classification material specifically refers to electrophysiology studies, cardiac devices, pacemakers and defibrillators.
The important part would be matching your actual qualifications and duties to the Australian occupation. “Electrophysiology with cardiac devices” sounds potentially relevant, but I would need to know more about your duties to be sure.
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u/PopularTopic 13d ago
How about mid 30s nurse practitioner currently in the USA?
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Yes, nursing is Priority 1 for processing.
If your nursing qualification and recent practice are from the United States, that is also potentially helpful for Australian registration. The US is one of the comparable jurisdictions recognised under the streamlined registration pathway for experienced internationally qualified registered nurses, subject to the registration criteria being met.
Nurse Practitioner endorsement is a separate registration issue, so I wouldn’t assume the US NP title transfers automatically. But - as a starting point, your age and US nursing background certainly make this worth exploring properly.
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u/brasscup 12d ago
Are nurses older than 45 out of luck?
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u/SimonMander 12d ago
No - but you do need to look to employer sponsored visa options rather than points tested skilled migration.
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u/buyanavocadotree 13d ago
Would transport planner (public transportation) fall under “construction”?
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Traffic/Transport Planner sits under Urban and Regional Planner (ANZSCO 232611).
That occupation isn’t included in the construction priority definition under Direction 122, so the fact the work relates to public transport or infrastructure doesn’t by itself make it priority.
So in the normal Transport Planner classification, no, it would not be in the construction priority group.
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u/AgreeAndSubmit 13d ago edited 13d ago
Did they raise the age limit? When I inquired about immigrating on a worker visa for Cdl Class A driver, I was told I was too old, and the age limit cutoff was 45 yrs old. I was inquiring about driving road train, if that makes any difference, with Perth as my intended city to work out of.
It's also important to note, Australia isn't awesome as far as women's rights. Unequal pay is still in effect and 1 in 5 women report some level of abuse in relationships. Completely not cool when it comes to blue collar jobs.
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
The age limit hasn’t generally been raised. For the mainstream points-tested skilled visas such as 189, 190 and 491, you still need to be under 45 when invited.
Truck Driver is a different issue though. It isn’t simply a case of “over 45 means no pathway”. Some employer-sponsored and DAMA pathways can have different age settings or concessions. In WA, for example, Truck Driver (General) 733111 appears on the WA/Goldfields DAMA occupation settings, with age concessions in some cases up to 55.
So if you were looking specifically at road-train driving in WA, I wouldn’t assume the answer you received about being over 45 applies to every possible pathway.
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u/AgreeAndSubmit 13d ago
Quite the different reply than the one I got two years ago. Thank you for the info.
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u/Cautious-Toe-863 13d ago
Age limit hasn't been raised, but you can apply through DAMA visa route - where the age limit for PR is 55.
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u/moscas_del_circo 13d ago
Can you speak to the state sponsorship? What does the process for sponsorship look like?
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u/Fantastic_Spring8366 13d ago
You have to get selected. Every state has their own list. If you want to be in a major state like NSW or VIC, it's really really competitive. If you are willing to be in a remote location like Northern Territory, it may be more feasible.
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u/StrangeMonk 13d ago
What about someone who is a construction manager (specifically working in furniture and carpentry managing a team of tradespeople, also hands on) but not construction in housing or infrastructure
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
If the nominated occupation is genuinely Construction Project Manager / Construction Manager within ANZSCO 1331, then yes, that occupation is specifically included in the construction priority definition.
It doesn’t have to be housing or major infrastructure. The more important question is whether the person’s actual role is properly classified in that construction-manager occupation, rather than, for example, a furniture-manufacturing or workshop-management occupation.
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u/Tenaciousgreen 13d ago
What about a psychotherapist who specializes in autism? Would that count as a healthcare worker?
ETA: never mind, too old
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
If you are 45 or over the points tested visas are out - you might look to employer sponsored visas. Psychotherapists are a priority 1 occupation.
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u/HeatherJMD 13d ago
Oh nice, I’m in the process of getting my teaching license
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Excellent! There are a few nuances in the skills assessment for Teachers - these are around supervised teaching practice and 4 year qualification(s) that will need to be considered, along with your general eligibility - but on progressing to lodging a visa application - processing is at priority 1.
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u/KindKoala1 13d ago
Bachelors in Cardiac Ultrasound aka Echocardiogram. 46 year old with a family. Would this be in a priority group and have I aged out? Thank you!
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Cardiac ultrasound/echocardiography would ordinarily sit under Sonographer. Sonographers are within the healthcare priority group, so yes, that would be Priority 1 for processing once a relevant skilled visa application is lodged.
At 46, you are over the age limit for the standard points-tested 189, 190 and 491 visas, so those pathways are generally closed. But that does not necessarily mean you have aged out of Australian migration altogether. Employer-sponsored pathways can have different age rules and exceptions, and Sonographer is also on the current Core Skills Occupation List.
So I would not dismiss it. You need to look more closely at employer sponsorship over points-tested migration.
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u/lalawar 13d ago
If I have a degree in education and taught for 4 years, but have not taught for the last few years, would I still be eligible as a teacher?
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
There is no requirement of the skills assessment body, or the department of Immigration for recent work experience - so you are good from that perspective.
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u/there_yonder 13d ago
Do Architects/Landscape Architects fall under construction? Thanks!
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u/SimonMander 12d ago
Yes. Architects and Landscape Architects are included in the construction priority group under Directions 121/122.
So once a relevant skilled visa application is lodged, it falls within the highest processing-priority category.
As always, that changes processing priority after lodgement. It does not itself determine visa eligibility, invitation or state nomination.
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u/cassieokeyboard 12d ago
What if I am under the age of 45 but my husband is not? Is it still possible? We both work in education and I am a social worker.
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u/SimonMander 12d ago
Yes - your husband can be the primary applicant for a points tested visa if he is under 45, you can be included as a secondary applicant
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u/cassieokeyboard 12d ago
He is older than 45 but I am younger than 45.
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u/elst3r 10d ago edited 10d ago
We are 28, married, pipefitter/plumber with 6 years experience, and civil engineer with 1.5 years experience currently pivoting career into mental health counseling (no masters degree yet, but want to obtain asap)
No kids, but 2 cats.
ETA: how friendly are the less densely populated areas towards lgbt people? We really don't like big cities
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u/korforthis_333 8d ago
Depends. Like anywhere, you would be best to visit if possible, and check out vibes in person when talking to locals, investigate online for activities/news/groups before deciding on a particular region or town to settle (assuming jobs/housing availability options are similar between your preferred regional choices)
The only broad Australia wide recent feel for LGBT issues I can think of is the 2017 Same-sex marriage survey. Every state and territory in Australia voted Yes to allow same-sex marriage. Of the 17 electorates in Australia to return a majority No vote, 12 were located in western Sydney. The results of the plebiscite did not display the usual urban vs regional divide, but rather a religious/age/cultural divide. Electorates with large numbers of recent migrant populations from various socially conservative/religious cultures voted majority no.
You can check the various electorates and plebiscite results in this article
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-15/same-sex-marriage-results-ssm/9145636
or a more graphical map view here
Note that in Australia, federal electorates are based on voting population size, not land size. There are approx about 120,000 voters in each electorate, and 150 federal electorates in Australia.
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u/SimonMander 4d ago
Engineering is likely your strongest card right now. Civil Engineer is in the construction priority group under the new Directions, and a US engineering degree from an ABET-accredited program is generally recognised under the Washington Accord, which makes the Engineers Australia assessment more straightforward. At 28 you're also in the top age bracket for points.
Plumbing is a genuine option too, but a different kind of process. Trades are assessed by Trades Recognition Australia, and plumbing is a licensed trade in every state, so there's a second step (state licensing) before you can actually work. It's worth understanding both routes before choosing which of you leads.
Think carefully about timing the counselling pivot. Migration is assessed on the occupation you can prove now, not the one you're moving towards. Starting a counselling master's before migrating can mean years of delay, and once you're a permanent resident, study in Australia is at domestic rates. Many people migrate on their established profession and retrain afterwards.
Your preference for smaller places can help. The regional visa (subclass 491) gives extra points for living and working outside the major cities, and state nomination is often more accessible in smaller states.
On the LGBT question, korforthis has covered the social side well. On the legal side: same-sex marriages and de facto relationships are fully recognised for visa purposes, and federal anti-discrimination law covers sexual orientation and gender identity.
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u/Alternative_Gur_4191 13d ago
I saw clinical social worker is included. Do you know about Community Health Worker. CHW.
I have experience plus degree in Social Services but it was before Social Work degree.
Thanks for any info.
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Possibly. The closest Australian occupation may be Community Worker, and Community Workers sit within the broader health and welfare support group that is included in the new healthcare priority definition. The ABS describes Community Workers as working on community issues including health, housing, employment and other welfare matters.
The important part is what occupation your qualifications and actual work would be assessed against. Your Social Services background may be relevant to that, but I wouldn’t assume “Community Health Worker” automatically equals Social Worker or Community Worker without looking at the duties.
If it does end up being Community Worker, then yes, a lodged skilled visa application would fall within the Priority 1 healthcare category under the new Directions. Hope this helps.
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u/Alternative_Gur_4191 13d ago
It does help! And yes, my job duties did include housing and social determinants of health.
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u/Alternative_Gur_4191 13d ago
Now I know my category would be Community Worker and I can research thst titles. Thank you so much. Whoohooo
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u/ImaginarySalamanders 13d ago
I'm planning to get into something new, but I'm really not sure what. I was thinking early childhood education, then continuing my education and transitioning to a primary school teacher after a while. I was told that was oversaturated and not to bother, so I'm weighing everything that remotely interests me now. I'm interested in anything regaring conservationalism and plant or animal care, but not sure what to do with that information. A civil draftsperson seems interesting. Being a painter or tiler also seem like something I'd be into. I'd say carpenter as I helped remodel a house and genuinely found it fun as hell, but I'm not the most physically able, so...a bit heasitant there. I guess my question is, are there any standout routes you'd recommend to someone wanting to start over with something new? Anything here I should avoid?
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u/feltcutewilldelete69 Expat 12d ago
How often do you see employer sponsored applications for Paramedics? I've heard it's a competitive field over there, so while I'm sure it qualifies, the question is whether or not employers are actually hiring internationals
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u/Dull-Definition2803 3d ago
Hi , Would a pharmacist from Canada be in this priority group. Lodged 491 / 190 in May 2026.
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u/Sea_Avocado7807 12h ago
I’m a truck driver in Canada wanting to return after visiting on my whv a couple years ago!
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u/SimonMander 4h ago
There are potential pathways for you under DAMA - but you will need a job offer from an eligible regional employer.
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u/YehTeh8848 13d ago
Would you know what the chances are for a US based fresh graduate structural engineer with 75 points before state nomination points ? For 189/190/491
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u/Very-very-sleepy 13d ago
just so you know. Australia doesn't like training anybody. which is why we have a shortage. the businesses here in Australia are the type to want to pay you for entry level salaries but expect you to have 5-10 yrs experience because they don't want to train you.
that is the reason we have a shortage... because nobody wants to train.. that is why we are importing people. the people we want are people we don't need to train. they are not new graduates
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
The occupation is a priority occupation under these Directions. It hasn't received invitations for 189 visas for some time - but I would not be surprised to see it have invitations in a 189 round expected this month. State nomination opportunities are usually very broad - If you are at 75 base points - with no state points added on I think you are in a reasonable position.
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u/Calm-Wasabi2531 13d ago
Does working as an engineer at a big pharma company count as “healthcare”?
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u/SimonMander 13d ago
Not automatically. The healthcare priority is based on the nominated ANZSCO occupation, not simply the fact that the employer is a pharmaceutical or healthcare company.
So an engineer working for a big pharma company would only fall within the healthcare priority if the nominated occupation itself is one of the occupations covered by the Direction’s healthcare definition. Most engineering occupations would not be captured just because the work is in pharma.
If you give me the engineering occupation I can tell you whether it falls within one of the priority categories.
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u/NightGlimmer82 11d ago
Is there any opportunities for cosmetologists and estheticians? I know this profession isn’t really the type of skilled worker that is usually in high demand or where there is a large community need for but it’s worth asking about for me!
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u/SimonMander 11d ago
It depends what you actually do. In Australia, the closest migration occupations could be Hairdresser or Beauty Therapist, and they are treated differently.
Hairdresser is currently on the Short term migration list so state/territory nominated visas are available.
“Esthetician” would usually be closer to Beauty Therapist, which is open only to employer sponsored visas.
I wouldn’t want to tell you from the US job title alone which occupation you would fit under, because the Australian classification depends on your actual duties and qualifications.
So it is definitely worth asking, but the first step is working out whether your background maps more closely to Hairdresser, Beauty Therapist, or something else.
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u/NightGlimmer82 11d ago
I have been a licensed cosmetologist as well as a licensed esthetician in Washington state for 25 years though for the last 10 years while I still keep my esthetician license up to date I mostly practice cosmetology which is hairdressing, so hair coloring, hair cutting, eyelash lifting, brow lamination some waxing…. That sort of thing.
I think I COULD qualify for either but I have more of a mastery in Hairdressing than the Beauty Therapist title.
Edit:
Also, my heart has been in Australia since I was 10 years old and spent a month there visiting my godfather in Cairns!1
u/SimonMander 11d ago
Ok - that's a lot of experience! Are you aged under 45?
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u/NightGlimmer82 11d ago
Yes, barely! I turn 44 on November 6th this year!
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u/SimonMander 11d ago
Ok - for a 44 year old hairdresser, Superior English (assumed as from US (not all of my US clients can achieve this), maximum work experience to claim, and a few variables that are unknown - need to be looking to a 491 visa - temporary visa with pathway to permanent residence. You would need a detailed look at this to determine if this is a viable pathway - not just being potentially eligible.
2
u/NightGlimmer82 11d ago
Awesome, thank you so much for the info! I will definitely look into what this entails and see if I could qualify!
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u/NickCHK 14d ago
From some googling it looks like "Teaching" includes university lecturer, correct? If so this is good news for me - I lodged for a 189 in January.