The Government has now locked in the number of invitations for Skilled Independent Visas by issuing 12,200 invitations for Skilled Independent Visas and another 466 for the Regional Family Sponsored Skilled visa on 22 August 2022. These invitations relate to Expressions of Interest (EOIs) lodged on or before 8 August 2022.
The number of invitations issued in the most recent round of the Skilled Independent visa program (Chart 1) was by far the highest since 2012, and reflects a change in program management strategy whereby the Government is seeking to grant visas as soon as possible in 2022 rather than spread these through the 2022-23 program year.
Primary visa applicants for this category may also include secondary applicants (dependent family members). If so, the total number of Skilled Independent visas available in this category will be over 16,000.
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will not likely be inviting any more skilled migrants for the 2022-23 intake. If it does, the numbers will be very small as the DHA will rely on state/territory governments to nominate from EOIs lodged after 8 August 2022.
The pass mark for the 22 August 2022 round was set at the lowest possible level of 65. This means that slightly older applicants, those with lesser English skills and fewer years of skilled work experience will receive visas.
The August 22, 2022 invitation round focused primarily on EOIs lodged by people offshore. For example, 52 out of 115 occupations that received an invitation were exclusively granted to those who had applied from outside the country..
In early 2023, offshore invitees will begin to arrive in New Zealand. If the labour market is strong enough for them to find suitable jobs, they will be able to rely on savings as they face a four-year wait before they can access social support.
The offshore-only invitations to apply for the positions of bricklayer, cabinetmaker, carpenter, carpenter and joiner, chef, civil engineering technician, construction project manager, drainer, electrician, fitter, gas fitter, lift mechanic, metal fabricator, motor mechanic, painting trades worker, panel beater, plumber, radio communications technician and solid plasterer were dominated by technical and trades occupations.
Overseas students who undertake such courses have difficulty in finding a pathway to skills recognition. The Department of Human Services (DHA) appears to be planning for these people to be nominated by state/territory governments based on relevant local employment.
The limited pathways for overseas students who undertake trades and technical occupations is an area of reform that the Government should examine given the shortages in these areas that Australia is likely to encounter as more “baby boomer tradies” retire.
A stronger role for TAFE in this area would be beneficial, to ensure the delivery of high-quality courses while limiting the entry of unscrupulous private VET colleges. This may require changes to migration regulation requirements associated with minimum hours of course delivery.
Out of the 115 occupations that received invitations, 48 were sent both onshore and offshore EOIs. These occupations were predominantly in the health or education industries.
The following occupations were invited to submit onshore and offshore Expression of Interests in the health industry: audiologist; chiropractor; clinical psychologist; radiologist; emergency medicine specialist; general practitioner; intensive care specialist; radiographer; oncologist; radiation therapist; midwife; neurosurgeon; nuclear medical technologist; obstetrician; occupational therapist; optometrist; orthotist; osteopath; paediatrician (doctor); physiotherapist (doctor); plastic surgeon (doctor); podiatrist (doctor); psychiatrist (doctor); registered nurse (various types); social worker (doctor); sonographer (doctor); specialist physician (doctor); speech pathologist (doctor); veterinarian (doctor); and zoologist.
Another range of other medical specialisations have only invited onshore EOIs. These are likely to relate to people who have had their medical qualifications recognised after upgrading these following arrival in Australia.
The occupations that were eligible for both onshore and offshore EOIs included early childhood teacher; educational psychologist; secondary school teacher; special education teacher; special needs teacher; tennis coach; and university lecturer.
Two categories of occupations were noticeably missing from the list, ICT occupations and accounting and finance occupations. It is likely that the Department of Human Services will be relying on state and territory governments nominating EOIs in these occupations, since there is a much larger allocation of places for state/territory nominations than for the Skilled Independent category.
The ACT had nominated 124 EOIs for permanent residence and another 228 for provisional residence. Tasmania nominated 219 for permanent residence and 245 for provisional residence. Victoria nominated 379 EOIs for permanent residence but less than 20 for provisional residence.
State/territory governments will accelerate nominations over the next few months.
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