Changes to State Migration Plans

There have been a number of changes to the State migration plans (which are important if visa applicants are seeking state sponsorship for their general skilled migration applications).




Queensland

Details of the 2012 QLD State Migration Plan can be found by clicking here.
I am indebted to the MIA for it's notice to members which noted the following changes:

1. some trade occupations in welding, electrical and carpentry have been included;
2. IT professions have been removed (from the 176 list); and
3. nurses and surgeons have been removed while some allied professions have been added.

South Australia

South Australia has reached planning levels for:

• 233512 Mechanical Engineer
• 261111 ICT Business Analyst
• 261311 Analyst Programmer
• 511112 Program or Project Administrator
• 225213 ICT Sales Representative

The South Australian requirements for state sponsorship should be checked as well as there are some occupations where "special conditions" apply.


ACT (added on 31 Jan 2012)


The ACT government is also doing its annual overhaul of its SMP (state migration program). The following is an extract from an MIA Notice that was provided to members on 30 January 2012. I note that these changes don't yet appear to have made it to the ACT website - I am sure it will be updated in the not too distant future:

The ACT Government has now released its 2012 SMP Occupation List and associated guidelines. It is effective from 4 February 2012 for applicants intending to apply for ACT Sponsorship:

• There are significant changes to the SMP Occupation List. 160 Occupations have been removed and 5 occupations have been added. See attached list.
• There are significant changes to the Subclasses 176 / 886 guidelines which are summarised in the attached update.
• Of special interest to agents will be the ability to nominate overseas clients for "off list" occupations if they meet certain criteria. Also, the requirement to meet set financial criteria has been removed; and a waiver provision for work experience added.
• Applicants who wish to nominate an occupation on the 2011 list may apply online before 4 February 2012, and then submit their hard copy application to the Skilled and Business Migration (SBM) unit within 4 weeks.
• Applicants that currently have a pending application for ACT Government sponsorship will be assessed under the new guidelines.

Creative commons acknowledgment for photograph.