An additional Skilled Occupations List that may affect overseas and local engineers alike heading for regional Australia is currently being developed by the Federal Government ahead of release in March 2018.
The new Regional Skilled Occupations List will come into effect when the new Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa is introduced next month. The “more targeted” TSS visa will replace the sub-class 457 program that the government is closing.
“This additional list will come into effect with the introduction of the new Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa in March 2018 and will help ensure regional employers are well supported,” the Department of Home Affairs said.
The combined current Skilled Occupations List that was recently updated comes in the wake of a review conducted by the Department of Jobs and Small Business late last year. The review, the Department of Home Affairs said, was informed by employer and employee groups, government agencies, and labour market analysis.
“These changes have been made to reflect the skills needs of the Australian labour market, and to continue to support Australian businesses to address skills shortages that they are unable to fill locally,” the DHA stated.
The six-monthly review cycle of the occupation lists was established by the government in April 2017 to ensure the lists are responsive to changes in the Australian labour market.
Engineering roles that are on the current Skilled Occupations List are:
Aeronautical; Agricultural
Aircraft maintenance – Avionics; Mechanical; Structures
Biomedical; Chemical
Civil; Civil Draftsperson; Civil Technician; Structural
Computer networks and systems
Electrical; Electrical Draftsperson; Technician
Electronics; Engineering Manager
Engineering Professional; Technologist
Environmental; Geotechnical
ICT Quality Assurance; ICT Support and Test; ICT Support; ICT Systems Test; Software
Industrial; Materials
Mechanical; Mechanical Technician
Mining (excluding petroleum)
Naval; Petroleum; Production or Plant
Telecommunications; Telecommunications Field; Telecommunications Network
Telecommunications Network Planner; Telecommunications Technical Officer or Technologist
Transport
Image: Source: Bechtel.