The Australian Government has this morning announced a new priority skills list (‘PMSOL’), which will allow skilled workers in specific occupations to be exempt from the current travel ban. This will fill urgent skill needs in critical sectors, helping to create local jobs and rebuild the economy.
The occupations approved for priority processing that will be of particular interest to our clients are as follows:
- Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)
- Software Engineer (261313)
- Developer Programmer (261312)
- Construction Project Manager (133111)
- Mechanical Engineer (233512)
There is no date yet on when this PMSOL will come into effect as legislation may need to change to allow this.
In addition to current labour market testing requirements, employers relying on this list must also advertise their vacancy on the Government’s JobActive website.
We do not know yet:
- How this will impact lodged applications in these occupations, as the JobActive advertisement requirement will not have been met; OR
- Whether Jobactive must be used for any visa application that uses this occupation or whether it should be used only when employers are seeking priority.
We will provide another update once more information is released by the Government.
Existing occupation lists will remain unchanged and visas for other occupations will be processed. However priority for travel requests and visa applications will be given to those occupations on the PMSOL. The mandatory quarantine period of 14 days will still apply on arrival.
The full list of occupations on the PMSOL is:
- Mechanical Engineer (233512)
- Construction Project Manager (133111)
- Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)
- General Practitioner (253111)
- Resident Medical Officer (253112)
- Psychiatrist (253411)
- Medical Practitioner nec (253999)
- Midwife (254111)
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)
- Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
- Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)
- Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)
- Registered Nurses nec (254499)
- Developer Programmer (261312)
- Software Engineer (261313)
- Maintenance Planner (312911)
This PMSOL applies to the following employer sponsored visas:
- Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
- Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)
Further information will be provided as it becomes available. We will also review cases individually as we process them to see how this announcement affects them.
DISCLAIMER This information is current as of and subject to change. The information contained in this publication is of a general nature only. It should not be used as legal advice. To the extent permissible by law, Ajuria Lawyers and its associated entities shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, defects or misrepresentations in the information or for any loss or damage suffered by persons who use or rely on such information. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
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