Highlights
- Temporary visa holders with certain occupations to get priority
- Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List has 17 occupations
- Occupations in healthcare, construction, IT sector identified as a priority
Immigration may have slowed down but Dr Patel*, a General Practitioner is among those who were recently granted Australia's temporary work visa.
The GP says he has a job waiting for him in Melbourne but is waiting for flights from India to travel to Australia.
“I was recently granted my 482 visa and within days, I was granted travel exemption too. I have a job waiting for me in Melbourne as a GP. But there are no flights to Australia at the moment. I am waiting to get a ticket,” Dr Patel told SBS Hindi from India.
Dr Patel is among those being prioritised by the government to come to Australia as it looks to fill critical skills needed to support its economic recovery from COVID-19.
17 occupations which include software engineers, chief executives, psychiatrists and nurses will be among those prioritised who will be allowed to come to Australia before borders are reopened.
In response to a question by SBS Hindi as to when will temporary visa holders be allowed to come back to Australia, the Minister for Immigration, Mr Tudge said the government continued to process travel exemption applications for the temporary migrants but was prioritising certain skilled temporary migrants.
“They're coming back in small numbers already, and we have started processing some temporary migrant applications again,” the Minister said, adding those who fall under the new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL), will have their applications, fast-tracked.
“Just a few days ago I announced a new priority skills shortage list which consisted of 17 occupations, and so they will be prioritised first, and they will have exemptions automatically at the borders as well to be able to come in,” Minister Tudge said.
The PMSOL comprises mainly of occupations related to Healthcare, Construction and Information Technology sector.
Minister for Cities Alan Tudge at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: AAP
The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List
The 17 occupations (ANZSCO code) are:
- Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)
- Construction Project Manager (133111)
- Mechanical Engineer (233512)
- General Practitioner (253111)
- Resident Medical Officer (253112)
- Psychiatrist (253411)
- Medical Practitioner nec (253999)
- Midwife (254111)
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)
- Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
- Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)
- Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)
- Registered Nurses nec (254499)
- Developer Programmer (261312)
- Software Engineer (261313)
- Maintenance Planner (312911)
‘Employer-sponsored nomination and visa applications with an occupation on the PMSOL will be given priority processing. All other skilled occupation lists will remain active, but the PMSOL occupations will take priority,’ the Department of Home Affairs has stated.
“Our priority is getting Australians back into work but we also need key health workers to help fight the virus and skilled migrants who are going to be job multipliers, to help the economy recover,” Mr Tudge said.
“These occupations in the health care, construction and IT sectors will supercharge both our health and economic response to COVID-19.
“Visa holders, who have been sponsored by an Australia business in a PMSOL occupation can request an exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions, but will be subject to a strict 14 days quarantine on arrival at their own expense.”
*Name withheld on person's request.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others.
Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
