For a few months, the blogs and advise issued by several migration agents referred to an article from The Australian of January of this year (CHANGE IN MIGRATION LIST ADDS UP TO FEAR). Thereafter several migration agents gave out differing interpretations to this and an impression was created that accountants would cease to be on the SOL from July. However, it has all turned up to be incorrect and “just smoke without any fire whatsoever” and this day, DIAC has released the new SOL. The following is taken from the list on http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/skilled-occupation-list.htm
Annual Update of Skilled Occupation List – 1 July 2013
The Skilled Occupation List
The Skilled Occupation List (SOL) will change from 1 July 2013, with five occupations to be removed. The SOL determines which occupations are eligible for independent and family sponsored skilled migration.
The updated SOL is based on expert advice from the Australian Workforce Productivity Agency (previously known as Skills Australia). The list of occupations reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to a skilled migration program that delivers skills in need in Australia. The SOL will continue to deliver a skilled migration program focused on high value skills that will help to address Australia’s future skill needs.
Summary of changes to the SOL
The following changes have been applied to the SOL.
Occupations removed from the SOL
| ANZSCO Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 251511 | Hospital Pharmacist |
| 251513 | Retail Pharmacist |
| 323111 | Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) |
| 323112 | Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) |
| 323113 | Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) |
Occupations on the SOL from 1 July 2013
| ANZSCO Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 133111 | Construction Project Manager |
| 133112 | Project Builder |
| 133211 | Engineering Manager |
| 133513 | Production Manager (Mining) |
| 134111 | Child Care Centre Manager |
| 134211 | Medical Administrator |
| 134212 | Nursing Clinical Director |
| 134213 | Primary Health Organisation Manager |
| 134214 | Welfare Centre Manager |
| 221111 | Accountant (General) |
| 221112 | Management Accountant |
| 221113 | Taxation Accountant |
| 221213 | External Auditor |
| 221214 | Internal Auditor |
| 224111 | Actuary |
| 224511 | Land Economist |
| 224512 | Valuer |
| 231212 | Ship’s Engineer |
| 231213 | Ship’s Master |
| 231214 | Ship’s Officer |
| 232111 | Architect |
| 232112 | Landscape Architect |
| 232213 | Cartographer |
| 232214 | Other Spatial Scientist |
| 232212 | Surveyor |
| 232611 | Urban and Regional Planner |
| 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 |
| 234111 | Agricultural Consultant |
| 234112 | Agricultural Scientist |
| 234113 | Forester |
| 234611 | Medical Laboratory Scientist |
| 234711 | Veterinarian |
| 234912 | Metallurgist |
| 234914 | Physicist (Medical Physicist only) |
| 241111 | Early Childhood (Pre-Primary School) Teacher |
| 241411 | Secondary School Teacher |
| 241511 | Special Needs Teacher |
| 241512 | Teacher of the Hearing Impaired |
| 241513 | Teacher of the Sight Impaired |
| 241599 | Special Education Teachers nec |
| 251211 | Medical Diagnostic Radiographer |
| 251212 | Medical Radiation Therapist |
| 251213 | Nuclear Medicine Technologist |
| 251214 | Sonographer |
| 251311 | Environmental Health Officer |
| 251312 | Occupational Health and Safety Advisor |
| 251411 | Optometrist |
| 252111 | Chiropractor |
| 252112 | Osteopath |
| 252311 | Dental Specialist |
| 252312 | Dentist |
| 252411 | Occupational Therapist |
| 252511 | Physiotherapist |
| 252611 | Podiatrist |
| 252712 | Speech Pathologist |
| 253111 | General Medical Practitioner |
| 253211 | Anaesthetist |
| 253311 | Specialist Physician (General Medicine) |
| 253312 | Cardiologist |
| 253313 | Clinical Haematologist |
| 253314 | Medical Oncologist |
| 253315 | Endocrinologist |
| 253316 | Gastroenterologist |
| 253317 | Intensive Care Specialist |
| 253318 | Neurologist |
| 253321 | Paediatrician |
| 253322 | Renal Medicine Specialist |
| 253323 | Rheumatologist |
| 253324 | Thoracic Medicine Specialist |
| 253399 | Specialist Physicians nec |
| 253411 | Psychiatrist |
| 253511 | Surgeon (General) |
| 253512 | Cardiothoracic Surgeon |
| 253513 | Neurosurgeon |
| 253514 | Orthopaedic Surgeon |
| 253515 | Otorhinolaryngologist |
| 253516 | Paediatric Surgeon |
| 253517 | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon |
| 253518 | Urologist |
| 253521 | Vascular Surgeon |
| 253911 | Dermatologist |
| 253912 | Emergency Medicine Specialist |
| 253913 | Obstetrician and Gynaecologist |
| 253914 | Ophthalmologist |
| 253915 | Pathologist |
| 253917 | Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist |
| 253918 | Radiation Oncologist |
| 253999 | Medical Practitioners nec |
| 254111 | Midwife |
| 254411 | Nurse Practitioner |
| 254412 | Registered Nurse (Aged Care) |
| 254413 | Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) |
| 254414 | Registered Nurse (Community Health) |
| 254415 | Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) |
| 254416 | Registered Nurse (Development Disability) |
| 254417 | Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) |
| 254418 | Registered Nurse (Medical) |
| 254421 | Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) |
| 254422 | Registered Nurse (Mental Health) |
| 254423 | Registered Nurse (Perioperative) |
| 254424 | Registered Nurse (Surgical) |
| 254499 | Registered Nurse nec |
| 261111 | ICT business Analyst |
| 261112 | Systems Analyst |
| 261311 | Analyst Programmer |
| 261312 | Developer Programmer |
| 261313 | Software Engineer |
| 263111 | Computer Network and Systems Engineer |
| 263311 | Telecommunications Engineer |
| 263312 | Telecommunications Network Engineer |
| 271111 | Barrister |
| 271311 | Solicitor |
| 272311 | Clinical Psychologist |
| 272312 | Educational Psychologist |
| 272313 | Organisational Psychologist |
| 272314 | Psychotherapist |
| 272399 | Psychologists nec |
| 272511 | Social Worker |
| 312211 | Civil Engineering Draftsperson |
| 312212 | Civil Engineering Technician |
| 312311 | Electrical Engineering Draftsperson |
| 312312 | Electrical Engineering Technician |
| 313211 | Radio Communications Technician |
| 313212 | Telecommunications Field Engineer |
| 313213 | Telecommunications Network Planner |
| 313214 | Telecommunications Technical Officer or Technologist |
| 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 |
| 331112 | Stonemason |
| 331211 | Carpenter and Joiner |
| 331212 | Carpenter |
| 331213 | Joiner |
| 332211 | Painting trades workers |
| 333111 | Glazier |
| 333211 | Fibrous Plasterer |
| 333212 | Solid Plasterer |
| 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 |
| 342211 | Electrical Linesworker |
| 342212 | Technical Cable Jointer |
| 342313 | Electronic Equipment Trades Worker |
| 342314 | Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General) |
| 342315 | Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class) |
| 399111 | Boat Builder and Repairer |
| 399112 | Shipwright |
| 411211 | Dental Hygienist |
| 411212 | Dental Prosthetist |
| 411213 | Dental Technician |
| 411214 | Dental Therapist |
RLS's Blog 
Hi Ravi
I am a Migration Lawyer, who reads and appreciates your regular insights. I actually spoke with the CEO of Skills Australia, now AWPA, and he told me as late as end of April that AWPA had sent their recommendations to DIAC and, although sworn to secrecy, hinted there were 6 contentious occupations (groups) and that Accountant could very well be one of them.
My other surprise was that Dentist was NOT removed (after our conversation) having guessed that the Pharmacist were bankers to be removed
BTW, I also met with Scott Morrison, Shadow Immigration Minister, 2 weeks ago, and he thought the 2 year PSWR was a sop to the universities and was not something he thinks is sufficiently clearly targeted. When I pushed him on 2 yr PSWR for VET he didnt seem that keen – so the private RTO owners who hope that Abbott will rescue them from the Labor Govt are in for a shock.
I suggested to Scott Morrison that the real skills shortage occupations should be on the SOL Sch 1 ie Cook, Baker, pastry Cook, child care workers, aged care workers et al as the Skills Assessment changes of 1/1/10 of 1 year post study work exp requirement, should avoid a repeat of the 2 year “study but not solve skills shortages” loophole of 2002-2010.
Keep up the good work re the blogs and congratulations on your recent appearance in The Australian
Kind Regards
Andy Ellen
Kabo Lawyers MARN 0962018
andy.ellen@kabolawyers.com
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Thanks Andy… I have grave doubts that PSW will be extended to VET programs though it has already there for degrees being given by both the Private Providers and the TAFE. Hence it is already there in a way. The question that we need to ask the current Minister or the future Minister is whether they will extend the SVP to the vet or the private providers or not. The whole business of packaging is once again back and so the vet or the private providers who are able to package with an University are already getting both the key instruments for marketing: SVP and PSW.
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I have it on good advice that accounting will stay on the SOL because universities are dependent upon it for income, and that universities are too powerful for the government to upset.
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What about Software Testing profession?
Please provide me updates on the same.
weather it is part of new SOL or not?
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