Just Now ,the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced the list of occupations included in the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL). The introduction of a new list of occupations is part of a package of reforms that reflects the Government's commitment to a labour market demand-driven Skilled Migration Program.
The current SOL has more than 400 occupations. The new list of occupations, which was announced by the Minister on 17 May 2010, includes 181 occupations. The new list is available on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) website at:
The new move will put an end to people coming to Australia for short courses in some vocational subjects and then gaining permanent residency based on that training. Only people with relevant qualifications in occupations listed on the SOL will be eligible for independent general skilled migration. "Australia's migration programme cannot be determined by the courses studied by international students," Evans said. This SOL represents a new direction which aims to ensure we choose migrants who have the skills to meet our nation's economic needs. "The Rudd government continues to value the very important contribution made by the international education sector and education providers that deliver high-quality courses to both Australian and overseas students will continue to prosper. "International students who have the skills our economy needs will still be able to apply for permanent migration or be nominated by employers but we will no longer accept the thousands of cooks and hairdressers who applied under the guidelines established by the Howard government." Under the Howard government people who completed short courses in vocations such as cooking and hairdressing and had low English skills were almost assured of gaining permanent residence as a skilled migrant.
The new SOL is proposed to come into effect from July 1 to replace the old list which contained more than 400 occupations. It will be updated annually. Evans said Skills Australia received advice from industry skills councils, industry peak bodies and Professions Australia to ensure the SOL contained occupations Australia needs in the medium to long term.
Chairman of the Government's National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce, Parliamentary Secretary for Western and Northern Australia Gary Gray, welcomed the new SOL and said it would address the needs of the resources sector. "The taskforce has met with resource sector employers across the country and the clear message is that we need a targeted approach to migration," Gray said. The government recognizes the proposed changes would affect some overseas students currently in Australia intending to apply for permanent residence. The introduction of the new SOL does not change the concessions announced in February which provide generous transition arrangements for former and current international students seeking a visa under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) programme. People who have already applied for a GSM visa would not be affected by the implementation of the new SOL. The changes would in no way affect international students coming to Australia to gain a qualification and then return home.
