Boost Your Chances in Australia: Tasmania's New Skilled Migration Criteria | Australia immigration News

Comprehensive Overview

1. Program Opening: The 2024-25 Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will open for Registrations of Interest at 12pm on 1 August 2024. This year's program features updated eligibility requirements, policy guidance, and service fees.

2. Program Features: The 2024-25 Skilled Migration State Nomination Program introduces several changes and updates aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and responsiveness of the program to meet Tasmania’s labor market needs. Key features include:

- Priority Attributes Adjustments:

• • Reduction in Green Attributes: There is a reduction in green attributes, which previously held the highest priority.
  • Introduction of “Orange-Plus” Category: A new “orange-plus” attribute category has been introduced. This new category will prioritize candidates with these attributes, ensuring they receive invitations to apply for nomination within six months.

- Eligible Occupations:

• • Broad Eligibility: All occupations listed on the Australian Government’s subclass 190 and 491 lists remain eligible for nomination through at least one program pathway.

- Expanded Occupation List:

• • New Occupation Groups: 18 new occupation groups, comprising 78 individual occupations, have been added to the Tasmanian Onshore Skilled Occupation List (TOSOL) for the subclass 190 Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway. Candidates with a relevant skills assessment and directly related employment are eligible for permanent visa nomination after six months of work.

- Income Threshold Changes:

• • Updated Requirements: Changes to income thresholds in the minimum eligibility requirements and priority attributes are based on the latest updates to Australian median and average earnings and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT).

- Updated Critical Roles List:

• • New Roles Added: An updated list of critical roles now prioritizes invitations to apply for nomination based on employment in highly skilled roles.

- Service Fee Increase:

• • New Fee Structure: The service fee for nomination applications has been increased to $360 (plus $36 GST). There is no fee for submitting a Registration of Interest.

3. Priority Attributes Changes:

• Green Attributes Reduction: The number of green attributes has been reduced for the Tasmanian Skilled Employment, Skilled Graduate, Established Resident, and Business Owner pathways. Some green attributes have been reclassified into the new “orange-plus” category.
• Invitation Timelines: Candidates with green attributes will receive an invitation to apply for nomination within eight weeks. Those with at least one orange-plus attribute will be a high priority and are likely to receive an invitation within six months. All candidates with at least one orange-plus attribute will be invited to apply for nomination during this program year.
• Employment Requirements: Employment must be skilled (ANZSCO Skill Levels 1-3) to claim orange-plus attributes.

4. Additions to Tasmanian Onshore Skilled Occupation List (TOSOL):

The TOSOL determines eligibility for subclass 190 nomination in the Tasmanian Skilled Employment – TOSOL nomination pathway. It lists skilled occupation groups experiencing significant recruitment challenges. New additions to the list aim to attract skilled migrants by providing a streamlined pathway to permanent residency.

- New Occupation Groups Added: 

• • 1311 Advertising, Public Relations, and Sales Managers
  • 1322 Finance Managers
  • 1342 Health and Welfare Services Managers
  • 1351 ICT Managers
  • 2223 Financial Investment Advisers and Managers
  • 2231 Human Resource Professionals
  • 2242 Archivists, Curators, and Records Managers
  • 2321 Architects and Landscape Architects
  • 2325 Interior Designers
  • 2326 Urban and Regional Planners
  • 2343 Environmental Scientists
  • 2713 Solicitors
  • 3112 Medical Technicians
  • 3114 Science Technicians
  • 3129 Other Building and Engineering Technicians
  • 3611 Animal Attendants and Trainers
  • 3991 Boat Builders and Shipwrights
  • 4111 Ambulance Officers and Paramedics
  • 5996 Insurance Investigators, Loss Adjusters, and Risk Surveyors

5. Critical Roles List Adjustments:

The critical roles list prioritizes nominations based on employment in highly skilled roles. Thirty-seven occupations have been added, and 30 have been removed, ensuring the list remains relevant and aligned with current priorities. Occupations removed from the critical roles list are still considered high priority and included in the updated TOSOL.

- Newly Added Roles:

• • 135111 Chief Information Officer
  • 135112 ICT Project Manager
  • 135199 ICT Managers (nec)
  • 224211 Archivist
  • 224212 Gallery or Museum Curator
  • 224213 Health Information Manager
  • 224213 Records Manager
  • 233311 Electrical Engineer
  • 233411 Electronics Engineer
  • 233911 Aeronautical Engineer
  • 233912 Agricultural Engineer
  • 233913 Biomedical Engineer
  • 233914 Engineering Technologist
  • 233915 Environmental Engineer
  • 233916 Naval Architect / Marine Designer
  • 233999 Engineering Professionals (nec)
  • 234211 Chemist
  • 234212 Food Technologist
  • 234213 Wine Maker
  • 261111 ICT Business Analyst
  • 261112 Systems Analyst
  • 261113 User Experience Designer (ICT)
  • 261211 Multimedia Specialist
  • 261212 Web Developer
  • 263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer
  • 263112 Network Administrator
  • 263113 Network Analyst
  • 263211 ICT Quality Assurance Engineer
  • 263212 ICT Support Engineer
  • 263213 ICT Systems Test Engineer
  • 263299 ICT Support and Test Engineers (nec)
  • 411211 Dental Hygienist
  • 411212 Dental Prosthetist
  • 411213 Dental Technician
  • 411214 Dental Therapist
  • 411311 Diversional Therapist
  • 411411 Enrolled Nurse
  • 133111 Construction Project Manager
  • 133112 Project Builder
  • 133211 Engineering Manager
  • 232212 Surveyor
  • 232213 Cartographer
  • 232214 Other Spatial Scientist
  • 232411 Graphic Designer
  • 232412 Illustrator
  • 232413 Multimedia Designer
  • 232414 Web Designer
  • 233211 Civil Engineer
  • 233212 Geotechnical Engineer
  • 233213 Quantity Surveyor
  • 233214 Structural Engineer
  • 233215 Transport Engineer
  • 234111 Agricultural Consultant
  • 234113 Forester / Forest Scientist
  • 234711 Veterinarian
  • 252111 Chiropractor
  • 252112 Osteopath
  • 311112 Agricultural and Agritech Technician
  • 312111 Architectural Draftsperson
  • 312113 Building Inspector
  • 312114 Construction Estimator
  • 312116 Surveying or Spatial Science Technician
  • 312199 Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians (nec)
  • 312211 Civil Engineering Draftsperson
  • 312212 Civil Engineering Technician
  • 312511 Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson
  • 312512 Mechanical Engineering Technician

6. Policy Guidance Updates:

• Income Thresholds: Updated to reflect the latest Australian average and median earnings and the new TSMIT.
• Excluded Business Operations: Clarified exclusions, including parcel delivery contracting services, accepted as employment if the applicant has a related skills assessment or at least two years of experience.
• Skilled Employment Claims: Additional guidance on indicators of skilled employment, such as roles matching ANZSCO Skill Levels 1-3, pay rates above TSMIT, and pay rates at or around the National Minimum Salary.
• Excluded Employment: Employment as a Chef, Cook, or Café or Restaurant Manager in fast casual restaurants or cafes is now accepted but not in limited-service restaurants.
• Qualification Requirements: For ANZSCO Skill Levels 4 or 5, the relevant qualifications or experience as defined in ANZSCO must be met.
• Employment Related to Skills Assessment or Study: Additional guidance on demonstrating the relationship between employment and Tasmanian study.
• Job Interviews Related to Skills Assessment or Study: Can only be claimed if not currently in skilled employment.
• Genuine Employment Indicators: New item listing indicators of concern regarding employment claims that could prompt deeper checks.

7. Transitional Arrangements:

Applications lodged or invited before 1 August 2024 will be processed under the previous requirements. Registrations of Interest submitted before 1 July 2024 remain valid until their six-month expiry date or until an invitation is issued. New priority attributes apply to ROIs submitted from 12pm on 1 August 2024. Candidates may withdraw and resubmit their ROI if new requirements are beneficial.