Vetassess have announced a tightening in the requirement for skills assessment of “generalist occupations”. To date applicants who held the appropriate level of qualification for their particular nominated occupation, irrespective of the content of the qualification, would meet the requirements for skills assessment. Vetassess did not assess any form of work experience.
From 1 January 2010 this will change. All applicants will now have to hold the appropriate level of qualification (ie bachelor degree, diploma etc) however this qualification will now have to be assessed as being highly relevant to the nominated occupation. In addition Vetassess will also require the applicant to have a minimum of 1 years work experience in the occupation. Where the qualification is assessed as being below the equivalent Australian qualification in content then a further 1 or 2 years of work experience in the related field will be required.
DIAC have foreshadowed these changes for the past 12 months and they are now about to be enacted. For applicants who will struggle to meet this requirement you should consider making your application for skills assessment at the earliest possible time. All applications lodged before 1 January 2009 will be assessed under the existing arrangements. Vetassess have advised that applications should be lodged by 18 December 2009 to ensure processing under the existing arrangements.
Remember that the skills assessment outcome is valid for migration purposes for 2 years.
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If you would like us to assist you in making a valid skills assessment application before these changes come in to force or would like further advice regarding these changes contact us on 0845 644 5607.
