The Skilled Occupation List is to be delayed until May.
The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship have announced today that the unveiling of the new Skilled Occupation List is to be delayed until May.
The DIAC say that they are still considering a report from Skills Australia. Skills Australia is an independent statutory body that provides advice on current and future workforce skills needs and developments. They were approached by the DIAC in February to provide advice on the new SOL that would represent the skilled needs of professions and trades across the workforce.
Skills Australia said in a statement released at the time that they expected the SOL to include professional, managerial, technical and trade occupations.
They also revealed that they would be taking into consideration aspects such as whether the short supply of certain occupations were causing “significant economic or community costs”, if skills are put to good occupational use and whether the occupation considered for the SOL is a skilled occupation.
Skills Australia said that as part of their research they would be using labour market data to help them map out a better picture of occupations that were in short supply as well as detailed information to ensure that skilled migration is a suitable solution for individual areas, in other words to ensure a good balance between supply and demand.
The DIAC stated in February that the Skilled Occupations List would be available to view at the end of April before coming into force to replace the Critical Skills List mid 2010. It is part of Australia’s drive to encourage more highly skilled migrants to enter Australia.
It is thought that the CSL will be phased out gradually, with many occupations simply being transferred to the SOL.
For Australian visa applicants the delay just adds to their anxiety. Many applicants with general skills have already spent thousands on application and agency fees and now face an uncertain future with conflicting information over whether the DIAC will implement the controversial capping and ceasing scheme. Those trying to obtain state sponsorship already face the prospect of capping of certain occupations which delays their application for up to a year.
If you are affected by these issues, join our lively online forum where you can chat, debate and advise. Community members are already discussing capping and ceasing by the DIAC and state migration plans.
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