ASCO to ANZCO Change over

Last week migration professionals were invited to a joint presentation by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and DIAC in Canberra to hear about changes between ANZSCO and its predecessor the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO).

There are a number of key differences between the two:

1. ANZSCO’s major groups are based on skill level and skill specialisation;
2. There are new and merged occupations, including an expanded range of ICT, health, agricultural, sport and recreation occupations; and
   
3. Unlike ASCO, ANZSCO will not have tasks or duties defined for each occupation.

With DIAC planning to implement ANZCO in early 2010 there are bound to be a few teething problems including the drafting of new occupation lists, a dictionary of duties and some method of comparison between old and new occupations. This is not to mention the implications that lie in waiting for the various assessing authorities.

We will have to wait to see what transitional arrangements are put in place and hope that the change over is well managed. You can read more about ANZCO on the ABS website.

I am indebted to the Migration Institute of Australia (www.mia.org.au) for compiling a list of these changes as a resource to members.