Skills Assessment Changes

28 January 2010 —

Skilled people wishing to migrate to Australia have been affected by policy changes introduced from 1 January 2010 which change the way onshore applicants have their skills assessed before lodging a visa application.

The MIA is very aware of the implications of this policy change and the significant issues it brings to our member's clients. The MIA met with Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) last week to discuss a range of issues about the Job Ready Program.

Of particular concern was that the four stage Job Ready Program became effective before full details of its implementation could be confirmed. Some of these issues include the amount of work experience an applicant requires, applicants who had already completed a valid assessment, whether an appeals process was available and lack of required employer documentation.

The full details of the four stages of the Job Ready Program are still being finalised by TRA but some of these issues were answered during the MIA/TRA meeting. MIA members have exclusive access to the outcome of this meeting with TRA - see MIA Notice: TRA Skills Assessment Update and MIA Notice: TRA Update - part 2 in myMIA.

The MIA will be keeping members up to date with these changes as soon as we receive further clarification from TRA.

All Registered Migration Agents are invited to attend CPD sessions on Current Issues in Skills Assessment. These sessions are being held in capital cities and online throughout February and March 2010.

Queensland
Monday 8 February 11.00am
Tattersalls Club, 215 Queens St, Brisbane

Victoria
Tuesday 16 February 5.00pm
Batmans Hill on Collins, 623 Collins St, Melbourne

South Australia
Wednesday 24 February 3.15pm
Currie St Conference Centre, 55 Currie St, Adelaide

Western Australia
Thursday 25 February 4.00pm
State Library of Western Australia, 25 Francis St, Perth

New South Wales
Thursday 4 March 9.00am
Wesley Centre, 220 Pitt St, Sydney

Online
Thursday 11 March 5.00pm