The Australian Government is reviewing the skills assessment process for workers seeking to enter the country and will develop new standards for skilled migration assessing authorities to raise the integrity, quality and timeliness of migration skills assessments.
We are seeking views on draft best practice principles and standards to provide an aspirational yet measurable foundation upon which assessing authorities will be expected to deliver skills assessments.
This builds on observations identified through ongoing engagement within the assessing authority sector, findings from the recent Review of the Migration System and learnings from the Skills Assessment Pilots. The draft best practice principles and standards have been designed to ensure that skills assessments meet the needs of migrants, employers, industry, unions and Government.
Discussion Paper
Draft Best Practice Principles and Standards for Skilled Migration Assessing Authorities (.doc)
Draft Best Practice Principles and Standards for Skilled Migration Assessing Authorities (.pdf)
Beyond the scope of this paper
This paper is seeking input in relation to skills assessments for migration purposes. The following is beyond the remit of this exercise:
The visa framework, migration regulations and policy settings for the various migration streams (Skilled, Family, Humanitarian). These are the responsibility of the Department of Home Affairs and were the subject of the Review of the Migration System.
International mutual recognition of occupational licences from different countries (allowing the registration or licence holder from an international country to practice in Australia without undergoing separate registration/licencing).
Workplace relations policy as it pertains to migrants.
Who we’re consulting
We’re consulting with a range of stakeholders, including:
Assessing authorities
Government departments
Education and training providers
Business and industry groups
Unions
Multicultural community organisations
Share your views
You can let us know your views and ideas by providing your feedback via the online submission form or by uploading a document or audio file.
Before you submit your information and comments in response to a consultation, we will ask you to review and accept a Privacy Collection Statement. You will have the option to keep your response confidential.
Public Submissions
The Draft Best Practice Principles and Standards for Skilled Migration Assessing Authorities received 126 submissions in response to the discussion paper. While some stakeholders requested confidentiality for their submissions, 95 individuals and organisations agreed to make their submissions public, choosing either to disclose their names or remain anonymous.
The Department appreciates the time and effort stakeholders invested in preparing their submission and sharing their ideas to enhance migration skills assessments. This valuable feedback has informed the development of an enhanced assurance framework and new principles and standards for assessing authorities. These improvements are embedded in the proposed new guidelines, which will be published in the coming months, alongside the introduction of case managers to support and implement these changes.