Occupations in skill shortage in the ACT
On 24 March, 2009, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government released an updated ‘Skills in Demand List’. The ACT list specifies occupations experiencing shortages specific to that Australian territory and is not a reference list for other Australian states and territories.
Changes in the ACT’s labour market have led to changes in its list of occupations eligible for ACT skilled-sponsorship migration. The ACT government has removed several occupations from its list while adding pressure welders to the list.
The ACT government states that “The aim of the ACT Skilled and Business Migration Strategy is to attract suitably qualified overseas skilled and business people to live and work in Canberra to:
- meet current and emerging skill shortages;
- add to the ACT’s base of skilled people;
- introduce new ideas and innovations;
- introduce significant investment/settlement funds; and
- add value to the ACT economy.
The ACT Government offers a range of sponsorships for skilled and business people to work in a skilled occupation, to establish a business, or invest in the ACT.” Occupations included on the ACT ‘Skills in Demand List’ are:
| Occupation |
Specialisation |
|---|---|
| Managers and administrators[1] | |
| Childcare co-ordinator | |
| Information technology manager | |
| Engineering manager | |
| Construction project manager | |
| Finance manager | |
| General manager | |
| Human resources manager | |
| Policy and planning manager | Government policy and planning experience |
| Project builder | |
| Research and development manager | Government R&D experience |
| Welfare project manager | |
| Professionals[2] | |
| Accountant | |
| Accountant – external auditor | |
| Architect | |
| Biochemist | ACT job offer |
| Business and info professional | Senior government experience – frontline management / governance |
| Community worker | |
| Conservator | Museum and gallery experience |
| Copywriter | Proficient English |
| Dieticians | |
| Economist | |
| Editor | Proficient English |
| Engineer – chemical | |
| Engineer – civil engineer | |
| Engineer – electrical engineer | |
| Engineer – electronics engineer | |
| Engineer – mechanical engineer | |
| Engineer – mining | |
| Environment research scientist | Water quality analyst experience |
| Environmental health officer | |
| Family counsellor | |
| Graphic designer | |
| Illustrator | |
| Landscape architect | |
| Librarian | Proficient English |
| Life scientist (NEC) | Academic / research job offer |
| Management consultant | Must have consultant experience |
| Museum or gallery curator | Museum and gallery experience |
| Occupational health and safety officer | |
| Organisation and methods analyst | |
| Park ranger | |
| Personal consultant | Must have consultant experience |
| Policy analyst | Government policy analyst experience and proficient English |
| Print journalist | Proficient English |
| Psychologist – clinical | |
| Public relations officer | Promotions officer, event management, project management experience |
| Quantity surveyor | |
| Radio journalist | Proficient English |
| Recreation officer | Sport and recreation supervisor |
| Social worker | |
| Surveyor / GIS technician | |
| Teacher – secondary school | Mathematics, science, Latin, ICT, commerce |
| Teacher – vocational education | Language / literacy and numeracy practitioners / trades |
| Teachers – pre-primary school | Long day care experience |
| Television journalist | Proficient English |
| Urban and regional planner | Strategic town planning experience, urban design |
| Health professionals | |
| Anaesthetist | |
| Dermatologist | |
| Emergency medicine specialist | |
| General medical practitioner | |
| Obstetrician and gynaecologist | |
| Ophthalmologist | |
| Paediatrician | |
| Pathologist | |
| Psychiatrist | |
| Radiologist | |
| Registered mental health nurse | |
| Registered midwife | |
| Registered nurse | |
| Specialist medical practitioners (NEC) | |
| Specialist physician | |
| Surgeon | |
| Dentist | |
| Dental specialist | |
| Dietician | |
| Drug and alcohol counsellor | |
| Hospital pharmacist | |
| Occupational therapist | |
| Optometrist | |
| Psychologist – clinical | |
| Physiotherapist | |
| Podiatrist | |
| Radiographer – medical diagnostic | |
| Radiographer – nuclear medicine | |
| Radiographer – radiation therapist | |
| Radiographer – sonographer | |
| Retail pharmacist | |
| Speech pathologist | |
| ICT Professionals | |
| Systems manager | |
| Systems designer | |
| Applications and analyst programmer | |
| Systems programmer | |
| Computer systems auditor | |
| Computing professionals (NEC)[3] | Power building; Java Script; Delphi; Lotus Notes; Progress; Powerhouse; COBOL; Networking/LAN/WAN; IPX; SNA; Advanced web design; CORBA; HP-UX; VMS; Systems analysis; PKI; E-commerce; security (non programming); GIS (i.e. Mapinfo); DB2; Sybase SQL Server |
| Computing professionals (NEC)[4] | J2EE; Java; C++/C#/C; .NET technologies; PeopleSoft; Siebel; Oracle E-Business Suite; Solaris; Linux; Unix; network security/firewall/internet security; CISSP; Data warehousing |
| Associate professionals[5] | |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers | |
| Architecture associate | |
| Building associate | |
| Building inspector | |
| Chef | |
| Civil engineering associate | |
| Civil engineering technician | |
| Computing support technician | |
| Dental technician | |
| Disability services officer | |
| Electrical engineering associate | |
| Electrical engineering technician | |
| Electrical engineering associate | |
| Electronic engineering technician | |
| Financial investment advisor | |
| Hotel manager | |
| Library technician | |
| Office manager | Proficient English and corporate experience |
| Parole / probation officer | |
| Program or project administrator / management | Engineering, architectural, surveying or capital works experience |
| Property manager | |
| Residential care officer | |
| Surveying associate | |
| Youth worker | |
| Automotive trades[6] | |
| Auto electrician | |
| Motor mechanic | |
| Panel beater | |
| Vehicle painter | |
| Vehicle trimmer | |
| Construction trades | |
| Bricklayer | |
| Carpenter and joiner | |
| Carpenter | |
| Drainer | |
| Fibrous plasterer | |
| Flat glass trades | |
| Floor finisher | |
| Gasfitter | |
| General plumber | |
| Joiner | |
| Mechanical services and A/C plumber | |
| Painter and decorator | |
| Roof plumber | |
| Roof slater and tiler | |
| Solid plasterer | |
| Stonemason | |
| Wall and floor tiler | |
| Electrical / electronic trades | |
| Cable jointer | |
| Communications linesperson | |
| Electrical powerline trades | |
| Electrician (special class) | IELTS 6 or higher in ‘reading’ |
| Electronic equipment trades | |
| General communication trades | |
| General electrician | IELTS 6 or higher in ‘reading’ |
| Lift mechanic | |
| Refrigeration and A/C mechanic | |
| Engineering trades | |
| Aircraft maintenance engineer – mechanic | |
| Aircraft maintenance engineer – avionics | |
| Locksmith | |
| Food trades | |
| Baker | |
| Butcher | |
| Cook | |
| Pastry cook | |
| Horticultural trades | |
| Greenkeeper | |
| Head gardener | |
| Landscape gardener | |
| Nurseryperson | |
| Tree surgeon | |
| Other tradesr | |
| Hairdresser | IELTS 6 or higher in ‘speaking’ |
| Optical mechanic | |
| Furniture upholsterer | |
| Sign writer | |
| Printing trades | |
| Binder and finisher | |
| Printing machinist | |
| Screen printer | |
| Small offset printer | |
| Wood trades | |
| Cabinetmaker | |
| Furniture finisher | |
| Picture framers | |
| Wood tradespersons | |
| Wood turners |
[1] Skilled-Sponsored (Subclass 134, 137, 176) applicants must meet the English language threshold, have a minimum five years work experience in the nominated occupation, and achieve proficient IELTS scores (7 in each category).
[2] Skilled-Sponsored (Subclass 134, 137, 176) applicants must meet the English language threshold, have a minimum 3 years work experience in the nominated occupations, and a minimum IELTS 6.5 in ‘speaking’.
[3] Specialisations not on the MODL must be assessed by the relevant ACT based body as having at least one year experience in one of the following specialisations before the sponsorship is lodged.
[4] Specialisations on the MODL must be assessed by the ACS as having at least one year experience in one of the following specialisations before the sponsorship is lodged.
[5] Skilled-Sponsored (Subclass 134, 137, 176) applicants must meet the English language threshold, have a minimum three years work experience in the nominated occupation, and a minimum IELTS 6 in ‘speaking’.
[6] Skilled-Sponsored (Subclass 134, 137, 176) applicants for ALL trades must meet the English language threshold, have a minimum one year experience in the nominated occupation, and a minimum IELTS 5.5 in ‘speaking’, except hairdressers (minimum IELTS 6 in ‘speaking’) and electricians (minimum IELTS 6 in ‘reading’).
