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Dublin: 7 °C Thursday 23 May, 2013

Australian visa rule changes will open country to more Irish skilled workers

New South Wales has made it easier for skilled migrants to settle there by expanding its Skilled Occupations List.

Image: Tony Moran via Shutterstock

AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS in New South Wales have now made it easier for Irish skilled workers to settle there.

The most populous state in Australia with the biggest economy has added almost 100 new occupations to its Skilled Occupation List, which means Irish people from a variety of different trades and professions may now be nominated by the government for a visa entitling them to work in the state.

Previously, the state only listed 12 occupations, most of which were highly skilled like accountancy, biomedical engineering and architecture. By noting what skills were lacking in the economy, they have now expanded this list by calling for a number of medical practitioners, IT workers, lawyers, scientists, teachers and engineers.

They have also increased the number of trades including electricians, mechanics, carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers, tilers, plumbers and metal workers.

Explaining the new rule changes, Edwina Shanahan, manager at Visa First says:

It’s important to note that once a sufficient supply of a particular skill is reached it could be removed from the New South Wales  list again. The fact that they have been added to the list means that these occupations are in immediate shortage, so we would urge anyone considering the move to come forward now.

Read: Australian visa price hike criticised >

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Comments (18 Comments)

  • If your gonna go then best go to the Australian government website to see what exactly is required, cut out the middleman i.e VisaFirst. Dont be conned into thinking you need to rush ‘now’, take the time to get what you need yourself, dont accept rip-off offers to get the info for you.

    Reply
    • I would echo that. Whilst the migration agents have their place I would not see anyone on the skilled list needing them. I am an an Irish and Aussie citizen (returned to live in Ireland) and did the paperwork myself.

      Reply
    • Would totally agree with what’s said in the previous two comments, beware of middlemen operating in the Australian Visa Market. Be aware that you don’t need to have a bank account set up down there and you don’t need to have a certain amount of money in that bank account. In the rear event that you would be asked for it, cash at the border or money in an Irish bank account will do just as well. I spent a year and a half there and got caught with terrible exchange rate and service charge by one of these operators in order to have money in a bank account down there when I arrived. Lost out on a fair bit of cash.

      Reply
    • Totally agree.
      The immigration department make everything very straight forward.
      Don’t go to “middle men”

      Reply
  • I think (could be wrong) 30 age limit is for short term working visa. The skilled workers list has a sliding point scale. There is a cut off and the older you are the less points you get. As mentioned earlier, refer to Australian visa website.

    Reply
  • Interesting how Australia includes the word ‘skilled’ in the entry requirements.

    If we had followed the same approach 10 years ago, we wouldn’t have former hotels full of ‘foreign nationals’ practising their hard luck stories for the next meeting with Immigration

    Reply
  • I’m 50 and intend to relocate to Oz for good in 2014.

    Advance Australia fair…

    Reply
  • what is the age limit?

    Reply
  • Are you looking to head to Australia in the new year? Get in touch with Geoffrey Nathan Australia today and we can provide you with information on Working Holiday Visas, Business Sponsorship Visas and the pros and cons behind each.

    We are here to assist and provide information to those who wish to take the leap into the Australian market, and where eligible, we can also provide migration, salary packaging and payroll services for professionals heading down under.

    Please feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions. Pascoe.bailey@gnaustralia.com.au

    And don’t worry, my assistance won’t cost you anything :)

    Cheers,

    Pascoe

    Reply
  • So if Your Irish Born” Mad Taoiseach Wants’ Irish People To Immigrate instead of Supplying Irish Jobs Here to The People who Want To Work At home in Ireland” why cant Mr. Kenny and Richard Burton Not invest in Jobs to Supply to The people of Ireland instead of Supplying all Foreigners to Come over here to Take up residents ” When an Irish Born Can Do the Exact Same job as Foreigner” not Racial But look after Your Own First and Then Give Migrants The Options After” as Some people Irish Born would prefer to Work From home Which is Their Rights to Do So” not Going off to a Strange place, and end up been murdered” like Some Have in Australia” that immigrated to Make a New Life and Get a job there and ended up Been attacked, murdered or raped”.

    Reply
    • Richard Burton is a dead actor – don’t think he gives a shit about creating Irish jobs

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    • And as we all know Rita, Australia is renowned the world over for being the only country where humans attack other humans.
      Australia is a fantastic country to live with a great quality of life. I have my residency visa there and am thankful for it. We are all aware of the tragic stories of the attacks over there over the last few months but don’t kid yourself by thinking that that is so sort of ‘norm’ in Oz.

      Reply

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