About employment
Points for skilled employment factors are awarded to recognise the benefits of extensive work experience in a nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation. Only relevant skilled employment within 10 years immediately before the date the applicant was invited to apply for this visa can be considered.
Higher points are awarded for Australian skilled employment. Periods of employment do not have to be continuous. For instance, if prior to applying for a subclass 189 visa, an applicant whose nominated occupation is Software Engineer, works for 3 years as a Software Engineer, then studied full-time for 2 years, then works as a company manager for 2 years, then works as a Software Engineer for a further 2 years. This applicant would be eligible for points based on their 5 years employment experience as an Software Engineer.
Applicants can be awarded points if they have both Australian and overseas skilled employment experience.
It is worth noting applicants cannot combine shorter periods of skilled employment gained while working in and outside Australia in order to meet one of the Australian or overseas skilled employment experience factors.
If the applicant works for an overseas employer and physically present in Australia, the employment will be assessed against the requirements for Australian employment.
Unpaid professional experience is not considered ‘remuneration’ for points-tested purposes. Skilled work experience undertaken from a Professional Year is considered a developmental program rather than employment at a skilled level. However, paid employment undertaken at a skilled level, concurrently with a Professional Year program could be considered for Australian employment experience points
To be counted as time of employment, the applicant needs to show be remunerated at least 20 hours a week
Leave periods
Only periods of leave on full pay will be counted as time during which an applicant was employed.
How periods of skilled employment are to be assessed
The immigration department will consider
- the opinion of the relevant skills assessing authority on the period of skilled employment including the date on which they deemed the applicant skilled; and
- the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) including any pre-requisite qualifications/work experience relevant to the claimed skilled employment; and
- any other relevant information (such as employment records and references).
Even if the skills assessing authority’s opinion would award less points than the applicant claimed in their EOI, however decision makers are still required to consider the information in ANZSCO and apply the more beneficial outcome in determining when the applicant was working at a skilled level. Therefore, Other supporting documents such as work reference are very important for the decision-maker to award points to the claimed employment.
