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New Subclass 189 Selection Model β€” Simple Explanation...

@biotechy (2D ago| Updated 6H ago)

New Subclass 189 Selection Model β€” Simple Explanation

Australia has a limit (ceiling) on how many people can be invited for each occupation under the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa.

How the occupation limit works:

  1. First, department fills occupation places through other visas such as: β€’ Employer Sponsored visas β€’ State Nominated visas (190) β€’ Regional visas (491/494)
  2. Only the leftover places (if any) are then used for the 189 visa.
  3. ⁠These limits are managed at a broader occupation group level (not very specific job titles).

How department decides how many places each occupation gets;

Department looks at: β€’ How many people are already working in that occupation (using government employment data), and β€’ Multiplies that number by a percentage, depending on how important or scarce the occupation is.

The result is the maximum number of 189 visas that can be given for that occupation.

Occupation Tiers Explained Simply

πŸ”΅ Tier 1 – Most critical occupations β€’ Multiplier: 4% β€’ These are very important, hard-to-fill jobs. β€’ They usually take many years of training. β€’ Examples: Doctors, medical specialists, researchers * Highest chance of selection.

🟒 Tier 2 – High priority occupations β€’ Multiplier: 2% β€’ Important jobs needed urgently. β€’ Training time is usually shorter than Tier 1. β€’ Examples: Teachers * Good chance of selection.

🟑 Tier 3 – General occupations β€’ Multiplier: 1% β€’ Most occupations fall here. β€’ Ensures Australia has workers across many fields. * Moderate to limited number of invitations.

πŸ”΄ Tier 4 – Oversupplied occupations β€’ Multiplier: 0.5% β€’ Jobs where Australia already has many workers or many visa holders. β€’ Invites only a small number to avoid oversupply. * Lowest chance under 189.

Example of calculating and filling occupation ceilings

2411 Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers

There were 79,171 Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers in Australia at the end of 2024/25 according to ABS employment stock figures.

Early Childhood Teachers are a Tier 2 occupation with a multiplier of 2.0%.

The occupation ceiling for Early Childhood Teachers in 2025/26 would be 1,583 visa grants (i.e. 79,171 Γ— 2.0%).

There were 556 visa grants in 2024/25 to Early Childhood Teachers across the Employer Nomination Scheme, Skilled Nominated Program and Regional Provisional Programs.

This leaves 1,027 visa grants available to the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) program for Early Childhood Teachers in 2025/26.

Full Policy Document here

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Tier 1 – Highest Value Occupations Focuses on highly specialised roles with long training times and long-term shortages (mainly medical specialists like cardiologists). These receive the highest priority, with a 4.0% multiplier to maximise invitations.

Medical Diagnostic Radiographer – 251211 Medical Radiation Therapist – 251212 Nuclear Medicine Technologist – 251213 Sonographer – 251214 Optometrist – 251411 Occupational Therapist – 252411 Physiotherapist – 252511 Podiatrist – 252611 Audiologist – 252711 Speech Pathologist – 252712 General Practitioner – 253111 Specialist Physician (General Medicine) – 253311 Cardiologist – 253312 Clinical Haematologist – 253313 Medical Oncologist – 253314 Endocrinologist – 253315 Gastroenterologist – 253316 Intensive Care Specialist – 253317 Neurologist – 253318 Paediatrician – 253321 Renal Medicine Specialist – 253322 Rheumatologist – 253323 Thoracic Medicine Specialist – 253324 Specialist Physicians (nec) – 253399 Psychiatrist – 253411 Surgeon (General) – 253511 Cardiothoracic Surgeon – 253512 Neurosurgeon – 253513 Orthopaedic Surgeon – 253514 Otorhinolaryngologist – 253515 Paediatric Surgeon – 253516 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon – 253517 Urologist – 253518 Vascular Surgeon – 253521 Dermatologist – 253911 Emergency Medicine Specialist – 253912 Obstetrician and Gynaecologist – 253913 Ophthalmologist – 253914 Pathologist – 253915 Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist – 253917 Radiation Oncologist – 253918 Medical Practitioners (nec) – 253999 Midwife – 254111 Nurse Practitioner – 254411 Registered Nurse (Aged Care) – 254412 Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) – 254413 Registered Nurse (Community Health) – 254414 Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) – 254415 Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) – 254416 Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) – 254417 Registered Nurse (Medical) – 254418 Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) – 254421 Registered Nurse (Mental Health) – 254422 Registered Nurse (Perioperative) – 254423 Registered Nurse (Surgical) – 254424 Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) – 254425 Registered Nurses (nec) – 254499

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Tier 2 – High Priority Occupations Covers government-priority roles listed under Ministerial Direction 105, mainly in health and education (excluding Tier 1 roles). Unit Groups: 1341 Child Care Centre Managers 2411 Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers 2414 Secondary School Teachers 2415 Special Education Teachers 2723 Psychologists 2725 Social Workers

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Tier 3 occupations 133111 – construction project manager 133211 – engineering manager 134212 – nursing clinical director 134213 – primary health organisation manager 134214 – welfare centre manager 139911 – arts administrator or manager 139912 – environmental manager 211112 – dancer or choreographer 211212 – music director 211213 – musician (instrumental) 212111 – artistic director 224111 – actuary 224113 – statistician 224311 – economist 224511 – land economist 224512 – valuer 224711 – management consultant 232111 – architect 232112 – landscape architect 232212 – surveyor 232213 – cartographer 232214 – other spatial scientist 233111 – chemical engineer 233112 – materials engineer 233211 – civil engineer 233212 – geotechnical engineer 233213 – quantity surveyor 233214 – structural engineer 233215 – transport engineer 233311 – electrical engineer 233411 – electronics engineer 233511 – industrial engineer 233512 – mechanical engineer 233513 – production or plant engineer 233611 – mining engineer (excluding petroleum) 233612 – petroleum engineer 233911 – aeronautical engineer 233912 – agricultural engineer 233913 – biomedical engineer 233914 – engineering technologist 233915 – environmental engineer 233916 – naval architect 233999 – engineering professionals (nec) 234111 – agricultural consultant 234112 – agricultural scientist 234113 – forester 234211 – chemist 234212 – food technologist 234312 – environmental consultant 234313 – environmental research scientist 234399 – environmental scientist (nec) 234412 – geophysicist 234413 – hydrogeologist 234511 – life scientist (general) 234513 – biochemist 234514 – biotechnologist 234515 – botanist 234516 – marine biologist 234517 – microbiologist 234518 – zoologist 234599 – life scientists (nec) 234611 – medical laboratory scientist 234711 – veterinarian 234911 – conservator 234912 – metallurgist 234913 – meteorologist 234914 – physicist 234999 – natural and physical science professionals (nec) 242111 – university lecturer 251912 – orthotist or prosthetist 252111 – chiropractor 252112 – osteopath 271111 – barrister 271311 – solicitor 312211 – civil engineering draftsperson 312212 – civil engineering technician 312311 – electrical engineering draftsperson 312312 – electrical engineering technician 321111 – automotive electrician 321211 – motor mechanic (general) 321212 – diesel motor mechanic 321213 – motorcycle mechanic 321214 – small engine mechanic 322211 – sheetmetal trades worker 322311 – metal fabricator 322312 – pressure welder 322313 – welder (first class) 323211 – fitter (general) 323212 – fitter and turner 323213 – fitter welder 323214 – metal machinist (first class) 323313 – locksmith 324111 – panelbeater 331111 – bricklayer 331112 – stonemason 331211 – carpenter and joiner 331212 – carpenter 331213 – joiner 332211 – painting trades worker 333111 – glazier 333211 – fibrous plasterer 333212 – solid plasterer 333411 – wall and floor tiler 334111 – plumber (general) 334112 – airconditioning and mechanical services plumber 334113 – drainer 334114 – gasfitter 334115 – roof plumber 341111 – electrician (general) 341112 – electrician (special class) 341113 – lift mechanic 342111 – airconditioning and refrigeration mechanic 342212 – technical cable jointer 342313 – electronic equipment trades worker 342314 – electronic instrument trades worker (general) 342315 – electronic instrument trades worker (special class) 361112 – horse trainer 394111 – cabinetmaker 399111 – boat builder and repairer 399112 – shipwright 452316 – tennis coach 452411 – footballer

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Tier 4 occupations (lowest priority) in the new 189 selection model accountant (general) – 221111 management accountant – 221112 taxation accountant – 221113 external auditor – 221213 internal auditor – 221214 ICT business analyst – 261111 systems analyst – 261112 multimedia specialist – 261211 analyst programmer – 261311 developer programmer – 261312 software engineer – 261313 software and applications programmers (nec) – 261399 ICT security specialist – 262112 computer network and systems engineer – 263111 telecommunications engineer – 263311 telecommunications network engineer – 263312 radio communications technician – 313211 telecommunications field engineer – 313212 telecommunications network planner – 313213 telecommunications technical officer or technologist – 313214 chef – 351311

Does this mirror grant prioritzing?