Menu
You can manage your membership and billing method by clicking here
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2024 Office of Immigration Australia, a private company registered in Australia. All Rights Reserved.
Checking membership status...
To access this month’s edition & Member’s only resources, enter your registered email address.
This bulletin is for members only and provides our subscribers with month to month updates on Australian immigration policy changes and consequential opportunities. Opportunities are found via federal and state government policy shifts for the demand and supply for certain occupations.
This bulletin will keep you up to date so that you do not have to employ expensive immigration lawyers to provide you with monthly research.
Welcome to March 2021! As we enter the third month of the new year, join us for a look at the latest news and developments in the world of Australian Immigration… Read more
State Migration Program Updates for January 2021
After a much-delayed release of invitation allocations, almost all of Australia’s State and Territory Migration programs have restarted or will recommence shortly. Here we look at the latest news from January/February 2021… Read more
PRIORITY MIGRATION SKILLED OCCUPATION LIST (PMSOL)
As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to ensuring Australia’s COVID recovery, Immigration introduced a Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) targeting occupations in the health care, construction, and IT sectors… Read more
Australia’s COVID vaccine rollout set for ‘rapid scale-up’ in coming weeks
More than 4500 general practice clinics will participate in the next phase of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, according to the health minister… Read more
The sight of a deserted ANZ Stadium Sydney at the Bulldogs’ clash with the Cowboys in round two of the NRL season. (Matt King)… Read more
As legislation and travel requirements are constantly changing, we strongly recommend obtaining advice on your individual situation from a Registered Migration Agent.
Please click here to book a consultation with one of our Registered Australian Migration Agents, located in Australia.
Welcome to March 2021! As we enter the third month of the new year, join us for a look at the latest news and developments in the world of Australian Immigration.
SkillSelect Invitation Rounds
Immigration is now conducting SkillSelect invitation rounds on a quarterly basis (i.e. every 3 months) until the end of the 2020-2021 financial year. A round was due to be conducted in January, but results have not been made available as yet.
Carer and Personal Assistant Occupations
Acacia has received a number of enquiries regarding visa options for ‘Aged or Disabled Carer’ or ‘Personal Care Assistant’ occupations. Unfortunately, these are not on any of the Skilled Occupation Lists for migration to Australia.
These occupations were flagged for addition to the occupation lists back in December 2019, but due to the COVID pandemic no changes have actually been made.
At this stage, it is only possible to nominate these occupations for an employer-sponsored visa through a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA). Employers based in specified areas of the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Far North Queensland have access to a DAMA with these occupations.
This Bulletin will publish any changes to the Skilled Occupation Lists as soon as they have been announced.
VETASSESS Fee Increase
As of 1 February 2021, VETASSESS skill assessment fees have increased from $880 for a full assessment, to $927 (plus GST if onshore).
Travel Exemption Update
The Border Force Commissioner’s Guidelines for travel exemptions has been updated, with more detail on circumstances that will be considered for entry into Australia during the current border closures. This is particularly useful for those who wish to apply through the ‘Compassionate and Compelling’ pathway.
Immediate family members of Australian Citizens or Permanent Residents, or New Zealand Citizens usually resident in Australia can still access an exemption based on their relationship.
Temporary visa holders who need to travel overseas for a short period can also apply for an inward travel exemption before they leave. Exemptions would generally only be granted where there were strong compassionate and compelling circumstances, or if travel was essential for business.
COVID Testing for Travel
From 22 January 2021, all travellers to Australia are required to undertake a COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to departure. Only tests specified by the Australian Department of Health will be accepted, and negative test results must be presented to the flight crew before boarding.
State Migration Program Updates for January 2021
After a much-delayed release of invitation allocations, almost all of Australia’s State and Territory Migration programs have restarted or will recommence shortly. Here we look at the latest news from January/February 2021.
Queensland State Nomination
Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) have reopened their 491 and 190 program from 1 February 2021. Only new EOI applications lodged from this date will be considered.
There is no occupation list information available at time of publishing.
The ‘491 Small Business Owner’ program and Business Migration program are already open. BSMQ will prioritise businesses which:
Northern Territory State Nomination
The Northern Territory Migration program is currently only open to onshore applicants currently living in the NT.
Student visa holders who have not completed their studies will not be considered for nomination.
New South Wales State Nomination
From February 2021 the NSW Government will begin accepting applications for:
The Skilled Migration program is open, with invitation rounds focusing on applicants who are already in NSW who have nominated selected health, ICT, and engineering occupations.
Invitation rounds occur throughout the financial year, however, there are no set dates. NSW will not provide details on the points score, English level, or amount of work experience required in order to obtain an invitation.
Victoria State Nomination
The Victorian State Government has a set timetable for submission windows and when invitations will be issued. Dates for following rounds in March, April, and May have also been published on their website.
Australian Capital Territory State Nomination
The ACT program remains closed to offshore applicants, and is focused on those already living and working in the territory, in occupations on their ‘Critical Skills List’.
Tasmania State Nomination
The Tasmanian program opened at 1pm on 29 January 2021. New nomination requirements are also available on the TAS Government website.
They further advise that approximately 40% of skilled visa nomination places have been used.
Western Australia State Nomination
The WA Government issued their first round of invitations on 15 January 2021, with a total of 349 places as follows:
The vast majority of applications went to EOIs in the ‘Graduate Stream – Higher Education Graduates’ (PhD, Masters, Bachelor degree graduates).
South Australia State Nomination
The program will focus on applicants already living and working in South Australia, as well as international graduates and those who can contribute to South Australia’s priority growth industry sectors.
Migrants will be able to apply directly to South Australia for consideration.
PRIORITY MIGRATION SKILLED OCCUPATION LIST (PMSOL)
As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to ensuring Australia’s COVID recovery, Immigration introduced a Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) targeting occupations in the health care, construction, and IT sectors.
Employer-sponsored applicants in the PMSOL occupations will be given priority processing for both nomination and visa applications in the following visa types:
Occupations on the PMSOL (as of 27 November 2020)
General Skilled visa applicants in the above applications also appear to be receiving preference under the Independent and State/Territory Nominated visa programs.
Australia’s COVID vaccine rollout set for ‘rapid scale-up’ in coming weeks
More than 4500 general practice clinics will participate in the next phase of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, according to the health minister.
Elderly Australians and those with underlying conditions will be the first priority when phase 1b begins on March 22, with more than 1000 GP clinics initially involved and a rapid scale-up planned in subsequent weeks.
“This will ensure an efficient and equitable distribution of vaccines across the country,” Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement on Sunday.
The federal government has put more than $6 billion towards Australia’s coronavirus vaccine rollout, with contracts for more than 150 million doses in total and one third to be made by pharmaceutical giant CSL in Victoria.
The home-made doses are expected to be available in time for phase 1b.
Australian Medical Association President Omar Khorshid said no party was better equipped to administer the vaccines than GP clinics.
People could then get their COVID-19 jab close to home.
“General practitioners have a proven track record with flu vaccination of older Australians and those living with chronic disease, who will make up the bulk of the phase 1B rollout,” Dr Khorshid said in a statement.
“It is very pleasing to see the majority of GPs putting up their hands to participate in this critical national program.
“General practice is highly accessible for people and has helped Australia achieve some of the highest rates of vaccination in the world.”
The staged commencement of general practices will be complemented by GP-led respiratory clinics and Aboriginal community-controlled health services.
The AMA said more than 130 respiratory clinics and over 300 Aboriginal community controlled health service sites will support the phase 1b rollout.
AstraZeneca and Pfizer doses from overseas are being given to frontline health and hotel quarantine workers, as well as aged and disability care residents and staff, as part of phase 1a.
Almost 74,000 people in Australia have received their first vaccine dose so far.
As the vaccine rollout continues across Australia, more than 40,000 of the country’s residents remain overseas and are trying to return.
Australia’s economy grows 3.1 per cent in the past three months as COVID recovery continues
Australia’s economy has grown 3.1 per cent in the December quarter as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows the nation’s gross domestic product – or GDP – lifted 3.1 per cent.
It’s the second quarter in a row that Australia has recorded a positive increase in GDP.
This is the first time in the over 60-year history of the National Accounts that GDP has grown by more than 3.0 per cent in two consecutive quarters.
Head of National Accounts at the ABS, Michael Smedes, said despite the positive growth the overall numbers are still catching up to those seen prior to the pandemic.
“The economy has continued to recover with activity increasing 3.1 per cent in the December quarter following the 3.4 per cent rise in September quarter,” Mr Smedes said.
“However, despite the two consecutive quarters of strong growth, economic activity remained 1.1 per cent lower than recorded in the 2019 December quarter.”
Household spending increased 4.3 per cent as COVID-19 restrictions continued to ease.
Victoria recorded the strongest increase in household spending after strict lockdown restrictions were lifted.
Despite growing at 10.4 per cent for the quarter, household spending in Victoria was 7.2 per cent below its pre-COVID level.
“Household spending for the rest of Australia, excluding Victoria, was 1.1 per cent lower than pre-COVID levels,” Mr Smedes said.
Australia records biggest monthly trade surplus ever as household spending drives growth
Treasurer predicts rising confidence from Covid vaccine rollout as national accounts set growth record over consecutive quarters
Australia recorded the biggest monthly trade surplus in history as the economy continued to rack up records in a marked rebound from last year’s deep recession.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics said the trade balance of goods and services was a record $10.1bn in January and was up more than $3bn compared with December.
This was the result of a 6% jump in exports, while imports declined 2%.
Economists had forecast a surplus of around $6bn based on preliminary data released last month, with export earnings rising on higher commodity prices, in particular those for iron ore on strong demand from China.
Retail spending also rose by 0.5% in January to $30.5bn, a shade below the 0.6% increase reported in earlier preliminary data.
Even so, annual retail sales were up by a huge 10.6%.
Household spending was a key driver of the strong December quarter economic growth result reported on Wednesday.
“It’s households … that are out there spending because they’ve got confidence in the economy,” the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, told the Nine Network on Thursday.
“As the vaccine rolls out, I think we will see more confidence across the economy.”
The December quarter national accounts released on Wednesday showed the economy grew by a stronger-than-expected 3.1% after an upwardly revised 3.4% in the September quarter.
It was the first time the national accounts had recorded two consecutive quarters of 3%-plus growth in the 60-year history of the series.
Frydenberg said the Australian economy had been remarkably resilient and noted the government’s support measures had made a big difference.
But he admitted the outlook could be “bumpy” when the jobkeeper wage subsidy ends in March.
“The reserve bank governor and the head of Treasury have spoken about the impact it may have on the labour market in the short term,” Mr Frydenberg told ABC radio during his post-national accounts media blitz.
“But what we will continue to see over the course of the year is the steady trajectory and momentum with the recovery building, particularly as the vaccine is rolled out.”
Other figures released this week included upbeat manufacturing and construction results, while strong job advertising points to further employment gains in coming months.
Low interest rates and government incentives have also seen house prices rise at their fastest pace since 2003 and demand for homes loans at a record high.
The sight of a deserted ANZ Stadium Sydney at the Bulldogs’ clash with the Cowboys in round two of the NRL season. (Matt King)
The Matildas go wild after Emily van Egmond’s extra-time goal draws Australia level with China in their Olympic qualifier. (Mark Evans
Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Australia’s women’s cricket team celebrates winning the T20 World Cup final with American popstar Katy Perry at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). (Cameron Spencer)
Novak Djokovic on his campaign trail to winning the men’s singles at the 2020 Australian Open. (Cameron Spencer)
Richmond superstar Dustin Martin (left) and teammate Noah Balta (right) celebrate the Tigers’ 2020 AFL grand-final victory over Geelong. (Michael Wilson)
Parramatta Eels halfback Mitchell Moses boots the ball in torrential conditions in a clash with the Cronulla Sharks at Jubilee Oval. (Cameron Spencer)
David Warner wheels out his trademark leap and fist-pump after scoring a century against New Zealand in the 2020 SCG Test. (Ryan Pierse)
Surfer Ellie Brooks says a lot of her friends have struggled to get boards during the pandemic. (Supplied: Ellie Brooks )
Curious Kangaroo in the Coonawarra
As legislation and travel requirements are constantly changing, we strongly recommend obtaining advice on your individual situation from a Registered Migration Agent. Please click here to book a consultation with one of our Registered Australian Migration Agents, located in Australia.
You can manage your membership and billing method by clicking here
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2024 Office of Immigration Australia, a private company registered in Australia. All Rights Reserved.