List of Skills Required in Australia

What is the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)?

The Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) lists those occupations and specialisations identified by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) as being in ongoing national shortage.

What occupations are currently MODL?
The following is the current (as at 28 March 2006) list of occupations in demand for migration purposes.
MIGRATION OCCUPATIONS IN DEMAND (MODL)

Accountant
Anaesthetist
Chemical Engineer
Civil Engineer
Computing Professional - specialising in CISSP
Computing Professional - specialising in E-commerce Security (non-programming)
Computing Professional - specialising in Network Security
Computing Professional - specialising in SAP
Computing Professional - specialising in SIEBEL
Dental Specialist
Dentist
Dermatologist
Emergency Medicine Specialist
General Medical Practitioner
Hospital Pharmacist
Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Occupational Therapist
Ophthalmologist
Paediatrician
Pathologist
Petroleum Engineer
Physiotherapist
Podiatrist
Psychiatrist
Radiation Therapist
Radiologist
Registered Mental Health Nurse
Registered Midwife
Registered Nurse
Retail Pharmacist
Specialist Medical Practitioners (not elsewhere classified)
Specialist Physician
Speech Pathologist
Sonographer
Surgeon

Associate Professionals
Chef (excluding Commis Chef)

Trades Persons
Automotive Electrician
Baker
Boat Builder and Repairer
Bricklayer
Cabinetmaker
Carpenter
Carpenter and Joiner
Cook
Drainer
Electrical Powerline Tradesperson
Electrician (Special Class)
Electronic Equipment Tradesperson
Fibrous Plasterer
Fitter
Flat Glass Tradesperson
Floor Finisher
Furniture Upholsterer
Gasfitter
General Electrician
General Electronic Instrument-Tradesperson
General Plumber
Hairdresser
Joiner
Lift Mechanic
Mechanical Services and Air-conditioning Plumber
Metal Fabricator (Boilermaker)
Metal Machinist (First Class)
Motor Mechanic
Panel Beater
Pastry Cook
Pressure Welder
Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanic
Roof Plumber
Roof Slater and Tiler
Solid Plasterer
Sheetmetal Worker (First Class)
Stonemason
Toolmaker
Vehicle Body Maker
Vehicle Painter
Wall and Floor Tiler
Welder (First Class)

* Important: If you nominate one of the above specialist computing occupations, you will only be awarded MODL points if your skills assessment from the relevant the Australian Computer Society (ACS) states you have met the criteria to be recognised in one of the above specialisations.

The ACS has advised that assessments provided to successful applicants will state the ASCO Code for Computer Professional nec with the specialisation in brackets -- for example, 2231-79 (SAP). In addition, the assessment will have the following statement: "Based on the provided certified documentation, it is my opinion that the applicant has 12 months experience in (name of specialisation, for example, SAP)".

If you have a skills assessment which only states the ASCO Code for "Computer Professional nec 2231-79", you are not eligible to be awarded MODL points. A new assessment will be required if you wish to claim points for having an occupation on the MODL.

How often does the MODL change?
The MODL is reviewed twice a year to take into consideration existing and emerging skills shortages. This does not mean the list is changed twice a year. Changes only occur if there has been a significant change in labour market trends.

As the MODL may change from time to time, you are advised to check the current MODL at the time you are lodging your visa application. You should also be aware that your occupation must be on the MODL at the time you lodge your application or when your application is assessed in order to be awarded 'occupation in demand/ job offer' points on the General Skilled Migration points test.

How are occupation points awarded on the points test?
If your nominated occupation is on MODL at the time your application is assessed, you will be eligible for 'occupation in demand' points on the points test.
You will receive extra points if, in addition to your nominated occupation being on the MODL at the time your visa application is assessed, you have a job offer from a suitable Australian employer.

What is a 'suitable Australian employer'?
A 'suitable Australian employer' is an employer that has employed at least 10 people on a full-time basis for the previous two financial years.

If you intend to claim points for 'occupation in demand/job offer' you are required to submit documentary evidence that your proposed employer meets these requirements. This evidence should include:

a letter of offer from your prospective employer on official letterhead of the company which states the full address of the company and any telephone, fax numbers, e-mail and website addresses
the name and position of the person authorised to sign the employment reference typed or stamped below that person's signature – a reference with an illegible signature will not be accepted
details of the position you are being offered, the main five duties to be undertaken, and the salary level
details of the organisation making the job offer, including the number of people it has employed on a full-time basis for the previous two years
The department will make any necessary checks to ensure that the information provided is correct.
Priority processing
The Migration Act 1958 contains powers by which the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs can consider and finalise migration visa applications in an order of priority he/she considers appropriate.

Under this power, the Minister has identified a number of General Skilled Migration visas that are both a priority for employers generally across Australia and, more specifically, for regional and low population growth metropolitan areas. The Minister has issued a directive to give priority processing to these applications. As part of these arrangements, if your nominated occupation is on the MODL, your General Skilled Migration visa application will receive priority processing.