Changes affecting GSM applicants who nominate a trade occupation:

On 1st January 2010 the Australian government introduced amendments relating to GSM applicants (persons applying for a General Skilled Migration visa) who nominate a Trade Occupation.

These changes mean that as part of the skills assessment process for certain onshore GSM applications, those nominating a trade occupation will now be required to demonstrate that they are ‘job ready’ by providing an authorised skills assessment dated on or after 1st January 2010 in order to make a valid application.

This new requirement has been instituted in order to support the commencement of the Job Ready Program (JRP) and will be assessed through the Job Ready Program (previously referred to as the JobReady Test).

The Job Ready Program has been developed by the Australian assessing authority Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) in conjunction with Industry and Unions, and will include a workplace assessment by a TRA approved assessor.

The new job ready requirement aims to ensure that persons wishing to migrate to Australia as skilled migrants in trade occupations are able to participate in the labour market immediately and in accordance with Australian standards.

One of the primary goals of the GSM program is to provide Australian employers with ‘job ready’ applicants. The JRP helps to ensure that applicants for skilled migration already possess the knowledge and the skills to perform their nominated trade occupation within an Australian workplace as effectively as possible. Job ready migrants are also much more likely to find and secure employment in Australia quickly, which in turn creates improved settlement conditions for new migrants and their families.

Visa subclasses subject to the new JRP:

The visa subclasses subject to the new job ready requirement (JRP) are as follows:

Persons wishing to migrate to Australia under one of the above visa subclasses and who nominate permissible trade occupations are required to satisfy the JRP as part of the skills assessment process. This applies to all applications lodged on or after 1st January 2010. At present, skills assessments for such applications must be dated on or after 1st January 2010 in order to be valid.

Trade Occupations subject to the new JRP:

A list of trade occupations available under the GSM program is available on the Department of Immigration’s website. All occupations listed as Tradespersons and related workers in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) are required to meet the new job ready requirement.

Intended changes allowing applicants to use approved skills assessments issued before 1st January 2010:

The current requirement that applicants who nominate a trade occupation provide a skills assessment dated on or after 1st January 2010 has caused concern among many potential applicants who already hold a suitable skills assessment undertaken and issued before this date.

It is expected these changes will commence in the first quarter of 2010. Haag Walker Lawyers will endeavour to keep all clients updated on these changes and the ways in which all changes affect individual requirements and applications for Australian visas.

Applicants not required to meet JRP requirements:

If you have lodged an application for a permanent GSM visa nominating a trade occupation before 1st January 2010 you are not required to meet the JRP even if you have not received your skills assessment.

Applicants who are not nominating a trade occupation are able to submit an existing skills assessment with their application.

If you are applying for an offshore GSM visa, you won’t need to satisfy the JRP as part of your skills assessment. Note however, that if you nominate a trade occupation for an offshore GSM visa, you will no longer be permitted to migrate to Australia under the GSM program based on meeting the Australian study requirement, but will now need to demonstrate at least 12 months work experience in your nominated occupation within the 24 months immediately preceding the date you lodge your application.

How we can help:

Haag Walker Lawyers appreciates that many potential visa applicants may find these changes confusing. We would be happy to assist you in determining whether your nominated occupation is subject to the new JRP and thus requires you to be assessed under the new job ready requirements.

Persons wanting to apply for a GSM nominating a trade occupation may wish to contact our office for assistance in determining what is required as part of the JRP skills assessment process.

Please refer to our services pages to choose an appropriate migration service that best suits you individual needs