In the course of 2010 the Australian Government introduced several reforms to the General Skilled Migration Program, the most recent one being a new Points Test, which came into effect on 1 July 2011. People who submitted a Skilled Visa application on or before 30 June 2011 were not affected by the change.
The new Points Test aims to address the short-comings of the previous skills points system by bringing a larger number of highly skilled migrants to Australia through an increased emphasis on:
- better English language skills;
- more extensive work experience;
- recognition of higher level qualifications obtained in Australia and/or overseas; and
- different age ranges.
To help you gain a better understanding of how things have changed, we have set out below the features of the current Points Test that make it different from the old one. What remains the same is that you will continue to receive points for Study in Australia (5 points), including regional study (5 points), community languages/NAATI interpreter/translator qualifications (5 points), partner skills (5 points) and the completion of an approved Professional Year (5 points). For an overview of how points are now awarded, go here.
Pass Mark
The number of points required to pass the Points Test has been lowered from 120 to 65.
Occupations
While you will still need to nominate an occupation that is on the Skilled Occupation List (the SOL), you get no points for your occupation. The Australian Government has determined that the occupations on the SOL are all occupations for which the Australian economy will have a medium- to long-term need, so that they are all of equal value, eliminating the need to award occupation points.This is one of the reasons why the pass mark has been lowered to 65.
Qualifications
You can now not only claim points for qualifications gained in Australia, but also points for qualifications gained overseas, as long as they are "recognized"Which qualifications are "recognised" is unclear at this stage, but if you have a degree from a well-established university, you are likely to be OK.:
Business people in Australia have pointed out that this allocation of points does not adequately reflect the need for trade skills in Australia: it gives people with undergraduate degrees five more points than, for example, highly skilled electricians or diesel mechanics, whose skills are in high demand, particularly in the mining, manufacturing and construction industries. If the government takes note of these views, this aspect of the points test could change in due course.
Work Experience
Work experience is now no longer limited to specific occupations, but it must be in your nominated occupation or an occupation closely related to it. The points you can claim for work experience have been reduced, except when you have been employed for 5 years or more: the longer you have been employed the more points you get - up to 15.
Age
You must now be under 50 (instead of under 45) at the time of application. However, if you are over 45 you do not get points for age. You get maximum age points (30) if you are between 25 and 32.
English Language
You must now have at least Competent English, but that does not give you any points. If you have what is called "Superior English", i.e. if you score at least 8 in each of the 4 components of the IELTS, you can now claim 20 points. If you have Proficient English, i.e. an IELTS score of 7, you can claim 10 points.
Sponsorship
You can now no longer be sponsored for a PERMANENT skilled visa by a family member; permanent sponsorship is only available from a State or Territory Government. You can be sponsored for a TEMPORARY skilled visa by a family member, but the points awarded for this have been reduced from 25 to 10.
