Australia and New Zealand Overhaul Visa System with New Occupation Classifications

Both Australia and New Zealand have recently introduced new occupation classifications to better tailor their visa programs for foreign workers. These changes aim to reflect the evolving labour markets of both nations while maintaining a level of comparability. Below is a summary of the key updates and timelines for the implementation of these new classifications.

Key Updates for New Zealand

• National Occupation List (NOL) Introduction:
  On October 8, 2024, New Zealand launched its new National Occupation List (NOL). This independent classification focuses specifically on the country’s labour market needs. An updated version of the list was released on October 11, with further revisions set to take effect on November 20, 2024.

• Changes to Existing Classifications:
  Several modifications have been made to existing occupation categories. Notable changes include:

  
  
  1. A new "Column D" has been added, providing detailed information on proposed skill levels for each occupation.
  2. The category for ECG technicians (previously 311222) has been removed.
  3. The medical pre-analytical technicians' code has been updated from 311223 to 311222.
  4. The clinical perfusionist code has been revised from 311224 to 311223.
  5. The dementia navigator category (411313) was removed due to duplication with category 411718.

Key Updates for Australia

• New Classification System – OSCA:
  Australia is introducing the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA), version 1.0, which will take effect on December 6, 2024. This new system replaces the previous joint Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) that was initially introduced in 2006.

Why the Change?

The labour markets in both Australia and New Zealand have evolved significantly since the original ANZSCO system was implemented. With growing diversity and the need for more specific labour market information, the decision was made to create independent classification systems that better reflect the unique requirements of each country’s workforce.

Maintaining Comparability

Despite the move toward independent classifications, both Australia and New Zealand are committed to maintaining comparability between their systems. The mutual recognition of qualifications and standards between the two countries, particularly through the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement, will remain unchanged.

These changes are intended to better support the modern labour markets of both countries, ensuring that visa programs align with the specific needs of employers while maintaining strong cooperation across the Tasman.

For further details or specific inquiries about the new classifications, refer to the official announcements made by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Statistics New Zealand.