Doctors and nurses will benefit from Australian immigration changes.
A shake-up of the points system is underway by the Australian Department of Immigration which will potentially affect all applications for skilled Australian visas.
Currently those who are highly skilled but who are not sponsored, are entitled to 120 points, skilled sponsored applicants – those nominated by state or family – are entitled to 100 points and skilled regional – applicants sponsored by family living in a designated area or a participating regional government are also entitled to 10 points. This current system is set to change.
The new points test will now focus on applicants with a high command of the English language whilst work experience, age, skill and education will also gain extra points.
The DIAC have argued that the review of the points system is necessary because under the old MODL set up, it was too easy to gain 115 points based on age, occupation and English language ability with the other 5 points obtained through study, work experience or spousal skills. They state that the old points system had a number of faults that led to general skilled applicants gaining more points than highly skilled applicants who did not have sponsorship.
The proposed points system shake-up is all part of the changes to Australian immigration that the DIAC announced earlier this month. However they are just proposals at this stage and the DIAC are inviting comment from the wider public. Therefore if you want to read the proposals in full click on Skilled Points Discussion.
Meanwhile the changes the government made last September is already seeing results.
Doctors and nurses are immigrating to Australia in larger numbers along with other highly skilled workers, according to government statistics.
Applications for trades such as hairdressing fell by up to 64% whilst applications from doctors almost doubled in 2009.
This reflects the changes made by the Australian Immigration Department in trying to attract more highly skilled workers over those trades considered to be less professional, such as hairdressing and catering.
Senator Chris Evans was critical of the old process, claiming that it favoured students with a vocational qualification in a general skill over and above a “Harvard-educated environmental scientist with three years relevant work experience.” He claims the new system is fairer and will accurately reflect the needs of Australia.
Whilst this is great news for doctors, teachers, nurses and engineers, it is bad news for general skilled migrants whose applications had already been delayed by the September 2009 changes to priority processing. As we reported on Monday, there are some highly skilled workers who know their skills are being sought in parts of Australia, but as their occupations are not on the critical skills list, they face a wait until 2012 for their visas to be finalised – some applicants have already been waiting since 2008.
If you are considered applying for a skilled visa then look at our updated guide with links to the critical skills list and an explanation of how the Australia visa system works. We’ll also guide you through the process of state sponsorship and employer-sponsored visas. And if you are still unsure and need some personal advice or support, let the members of our online forum help and advise you.
Other related articles:
- DIAC Reveal Australian SOL Points List - DIAC unveil points list for SOL and State Sponsored Occupations....
- DIAC Re-Organise Australian Immigration Program - DIAC re-organisation within GSM ahead of the revealing of Skilled...
- Confusion Continues Over Australian Immigration Program - Chefs dropped from the SOL and states suspend GSM applications...
- Australian Immigration Changes Criticised By Visa Applicants - The DIAC comes under fire for constantly moving the goalposts....
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