Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program Update Nov 2024

Skilled employment related to gold, green and orange-plus attributes

A candidate must be in a skilled role to be able to claim gold, green or orange-plus attributes. To claim gold, green or orange-plus attributes related to employment, the role must be skilled ANZSCO Skill Level 1, 2 or 3.

This means that it closely matches the description of an occupation classified in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) as being Skill Level 1, 2 or 3.

• If your occupation is not listed in ANZSCO, your duties may be similar to another occupation that is listed.
• If you cannot find a close match to your role, ANZSCO provides a general description of each skill level.

Considerations – Skills and qualifications, duties and pay.

When evaluating a claim to be in ANZSCO Skill Level 1, 2 or 3 role, Migration Tasmania considers 3 main factors: the applicant’s skills and qualifications, the duties they undertake, and their pay rate. If these three factors do not align, Migration Tasmania may determine that the role is not skilled.

A pay rate above the current Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (currently $73,150) can also be an indicator of skilled employment. However, this will still be considered in conjunction with the other indicators mentioned in this section.

Pay or salary at or around the National Minimum Wage is not consistent with a skilled role and related employment cannot be claimed for gold, green or orange-plus attributes.

Migration Tasmania may also compare pay rates to those of other roles in the same industry and the pay those roles normally receive.

Example 1:

A candidate has claimed in their Registration of Interest (ROI) for the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway that they are in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 role as a Cook at a Tasmanian restaurant. Their letter of reference has stated that they perform the normal duties of a cook.

The case officer reviews the duties and agrees that they are consistent with those of a fully qualified tradesperson-equivalent cook. However, the case officer also notes that the base pay rate of $25 per hour is the same that would be received by a kitchenhand, a role normally classified in ANZSCO as Skill Level 5. Migration Tasmania would be unlikely to have confidence that the role was either skilled or that the applicant is receiving appropriate pay and conditions.

Example 2:

A candidate has claimed in their ROI that they are a fully qualified Mechanic (with the relevant qualifications) at a Tasmanian repair shop. They have claimed they are in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 role and their reference letter demonstrates they are undertaking the duties of a Mechanic.

The case officer notes that the base pay rate of $26 per hour is the same that would be received by a Driveway Attendant, a role normally classified in ANZSCO as Skill Level 5. Migration Tasmania would be unlikely to have confidence that the role was either skilled or that the applicant is receiving appropriate pay and conditions.

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides free advice regarding appropriate pay rates and conditions.

What if my duties include both higher skilled and lower skilled elements?

In cases where there is some overlap between lower (ANZSCO 4-5) and higher (ANSZSCO 1-3) roles there must be a substantial proportion of duties listed on your duty statement that are consistent with an ANZSCO occupation classified as Skill Level 1, 2 or 3. For the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway, there should be at least a 70 per cent match between the duties of your role and the duties listed for the position on ANZSCO.

Example 1:

A candidate is working as a Disability Support Worker. The closest ANZSCO occupation for that role would be 4231 Aged and Disabled Carers, which is Skill Level 4. Unless the duties the candidate undertakes substantially match another role that aligns with Skill Level 1, 2 or 3, they would not be able to claim priority attributes for skilled employment.

Example 2:

An Assistant Accountant role would only be accepted for the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway if there was a 70 per cent match with the duties outlined on ANZSCO for Group 2211 Accountants. Roles that consist mainly of administrative support are not considered skilled roles.

Tasmanian Skilled Graduate and Tasmanian Established Resident pathways

For the Tasmanian Skilled Graduate and Tasmanian Established Resident pathways there is more flexibility; the match should be at least 40 per cent. This recognises the need for many recent graduates to obtain experience at entry level before being appointed to and paid at a fully skilled level. However, if the duties of your role align with those of a fully skilled and experienced worker, you are expected to receive pay at the appropriate level.

Example 1:

A recent accounting graduate working as a junior accountant or accounts assistant may focus on tasks like data entry, reconciling bank statements, processing invoices, or assisting with payroll. These duties might align with 40–50% of the ANZSCO definition, as they are building foundational skills. Their role reflects an entry-level position, so a lower salary might be acceptable for nomination.

An accountant performing duties like preparing detailed financial reports, advising on tax strategies, analysing financial risks, and managing budgets would have 70–100% alignment with the ANZSCO definition. Since their role corresponds to the expectations of a fully skilled professional, they would be unlikely to be approved for nomination unless they are paid at the level expected for a qualified accountant.

Example 2:

A recent graduate working as a commis chef (entry-level chef) may primarily focus on food preparation, following recipes, and assisting senior chefs. Their duties might align with only 40–50% of the ANZSCO definition for a fully skilled chef, as they are still gaining experience. They are likely paid at a lower rate that reflects their entry-level status.

A more experienced worker performing duties like supervising kitchen staff and ensuring compliance with health regulations would have 70–100% alignment with the ANZSCO classification. Since their role reflects the responsibilities of a fully skilled chef, they should be paid at the appropriate level for that classification.

Key statistics (as of 26 November 2024)

Since 1 July 2024

Registrations of interest (ROIs)

• 1,924 submitted
• 1,230 invited to apply for nomination (64 per cent)

On current trends we are expecting up to 80 per cent of submitted ROIs to be invited

Applications for nomination

• 1,235 lodged (includes ROIs invited before 1 July 2024)
• 755 approved
• 7 withdrawn
• 356 yet to be processed
• 108 declined

More than 87 percent of applications are approved.

The primary reason applications are declined is the submission of false or misleading information. This includes fabricated employment details or exaggerated claims, such as:

• Claiming gold, green, or orange-plus attributes without working in a skilled role.
• Misrepresenting salary levels or other employment details.

Overseas applicant selection - focus on health, allied health, and education sectors

Migration Tasmania intends to run a selection round in late January / early February 2025 for overseas applicants who do not have a job offer from a Tasmanian business.

This exercise will use the Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles information on our website, and will focus on the health, allied health and educations sectors.

Overseas candidates who have submitted an Expression of Interest in the Australian Government’s Skillselect database and who have listed skills and experiences described in those profiles may be contacted by Migration Tasmania and invited to apply for Tasmanian nomination in the subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles pathway. They may also be to connected to details of Tasmanian employers seeking those skills.

More information can be found here

Christmas / New Year office closure

Migration Tasmania will close from 12:00 noon, Tuesday 24 December 2024 for the Christmas / New Year holiday period and reopen Thursday 3 January 2025.

Registrations of interest and applications for state nomination can continue to be submitted during this period, however we will not be processing applications or answering any enquiries during this time.

We wish everyone a very happy festive season.