What is Skilled Employment?
For employment to be considered ‘skilled’ it must meet the following requirements:
• it was undertaken after you met the entry level requirements for that occupation (that is, completed a sufficient level of study or amount of on-the-job training) and
• it involved duties at the level and complexity expected in Australia.
If the entry level prescribed for your nominated occupation is a certain qualification only work undertaken after you have completed that qualification will be counted as skilled employment.
For the purpose of awarding points, the Department considers skilled employment in the nominated occupation or a closely related occupation to be where the applicant has been paid for working for at least 20 hours a week. Working for at least 20 hours a week means 20 hours each week and not irregular periods that average out to 20 hours a week over a year.
Any periods of skilled employment must have been undertaken at the required skill level as an example, a person who works 4 years as a bookkeeper while undertaking accounting studies, then qualifies as an accountant, then works 2 years as an accountant, can only claim 2 years skilled employment in the nominated occupation of Accountant.
Any periods of employment in a closely related occupation must be undertaken at the relevant skill level of the nominated occupation. Employment is to be in occupations in:
a) the same Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) Unit Group, for example the occupations of Management Accountant and Taxation Accountant are in the same group, or
b) what would be consistent with a plausible career advancement pathway: for example, Accountant to Chief Financial Officer.
Further information on occupation information, skill level and ANZSCO unit groups are available on the department’s website at www.immi.gov.au/asri.
You need to keep your current employment details up to date. SkillSelect will continue to tally periods of employment from date of EOI submission to the date of invitation to apply. Therefore, if you change or cease your employment after you submit your EOI, you need to update your EOI.
If your employment fits into the above description then you can answer “yes” to the question in SkillSelect - ”Is the employment related to the nominated occupation?”
Further information on Skilled Employment requirements and evidence you must provide if you have claimed points for this factor is available at: http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/visas/subclass-189/#sub-heading-13
How many points do I get for my Educational Qualifications?
You may be eligible to be awarded points for overseas qualifications. The department will need to be satisfied the qualification attained is of a recognised standard to a qualification awarded by an Australian institution. You can find out if your qualfication is of a recognised standard by asking your assessing authority to specifically mention what your overseas qualification is equivalent to under the Australia Qualification Framework in your skills assessment.
To be eligible for the award of 20 points for a Doctorate you must have met the requirements for an award of doctorate by:
a) a Australian educational institution or,
b) a doctorate award by an overseas educational institution of a recognised standard.
Note a Doctorate generally comprises of more than 4 years of study, involving extensive research, coursework, exams and the writing of a thesis/dissertation.
To receive 15 points for a Masters or Honours degree you must:
a) also have an Australian Bachelor degree, or
b) your Masters degree must be considered as at least comparable to Bachelor level at Australian standards (assessing authorities can provide an opinion on your qualifications).
Note you will generally only be eligible for the award of 10 points if you hold a Masters degree and do not meet the above requirements. In this circumstance you must select the option of “Other qualification or award recognised by Assessing Authority” in your EOI.
The list of courses you can choose in SkillSelect are considered Australian qualifications (example Bachelor degree- other) therefore if you have obtained a qualification overseas you should select the option “Other qualification or award recognised by an assessing authority”.
If your skills assessment actually specifies that your overseas qualification (example Doctoral Degree in science, business or technology) is actually equivalent to an Australian Standard then you can select that option in the list.
Further information on Educational Qualification requirements and evidence you must provide if you have claimed points for this factor is available at:
http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/visas/subclass-189/#sub-heading-14
Do I meet the Australian Study Requirement?
You may be eligible to claim 5 points for Australian Study Requirement if you have completed 1 or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications for award by an Australian educational institution as a result of a course or courses:
(a) that are registered courses; and
(b) that were completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months; and
(c) that were completed as a result of a total of at least 2 academic years study;
and
(d) for which all instruction was conducted in English; and
(e) that the applicant undertook while in Australia as the holder of a visa authorising the applicant to study.
Any failed course subject cannot be counted towards the Australian Study Requirement.
Further information on the Australian Study Requirements and evidence you must provide if you have claimed points for this factor is available at:
http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/visas/subclass-189/#sub-heading-15
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