What’s in this issue? Skilled employment related to gold, green and orange-plus attributes – further guidance Key statistics – invitation and approval rate Overseas applicant selection – focus on health, allied health, and education sectors Information Webinar – 17 December 2024 Christmas / New Year office closure Skilled employment related to gold, green and orange-plus attributes Further guidance has been published on the Migration Tasmania website about the things we consider when determining if someone is in a skilled employment role. A candidate must be in a skilled role to be able to claim gold, green or orange-plus attributes. To claim gold, green or orange-plus attributes related to employment, the role must be skilled ANZSCO Skill Level 1, 2 or 3. This means that it closely matches the description of an occupation classified in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) as being Skill Level 1, 2 or 3. If your occupation is not listed in ANZSCO, your duties may be similar to another occupation that is listed. If you cannot find a close match to your role, ANZSCO provides a general description of each skill level. Considerations – Skills and qualifications, duties and pay. When evaluating a claim to be in ANZSCO Skill Level 1, 2 or 3 role, Migration Tasmania considers 3 main factors: the applicant’s skills and qualifications, the duties they undertake, and their pay rate. If these three factors do not align, Migration Tasmania may determine that the role is not skilled. A pay rate above the current Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (currently $73,150) can also be an indicator of skilled employment. However, this will still be considered in conjunction with the other indicators mentioned in this section. Pay or salary at or around the National Minimum Wage is not consistent with a skilled role and related employment cannot be claimed for gold, green or orange-plus attributes. Migration Tasmania may also compare pay rates to those of other roles in the same industry and the pay those roles normally receive. Example 1: A candidate has claimed in their Registration of Interest (ROI) for the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway that they are in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 role as a Cook at a Tasmanian restaurant. Their letter of reference has stated that they perform the normal duties of a cook. The case officer reviews the duties and agrees that they are consistent with those of a fully qualified tradesperson-equivalent cook. However, the case officer also notes that the base pay rate of $25 per hour is the same that would be received by a kitchenhand, a role normally classified in ANZSCO as Skill Level 5. Migration Tasmania would be unlikely to have confidence that the role was either skilled or that the applicant is receiving appropriate pay and conditions. Example 2: A candidate has claimed in their ROI that they are a fully qualified Mechanic (with the relevant qualifications) at a Tasmanian repair shop. They have claimed they are in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 role and their reference letter demonstrates they are undertaking the duties of a Mechanic. The case officer notes that the base pay rate of $26 per hour is the same that would be received by a Driveway Attendant, a role normally classified in ANZSCO as Skill Level 5. Migration Tasmania would be unlikely to have confidence that the role was either skilled or that the applicant is receiving appropriate pay and conditions. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides free advice regarding appropriate pay rates and conditions. What if my duties include both higher skilled and lower skilled elements? In cases where there is some overlap between lower (ANZSCO 4-5) and higher (ANSZSCO 1-3) roles there must be a substantial proportion of duties listed on your duty statement that are consistent with an ANZSCO occupation classified as Skill Level 1, 2 or 3. For the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway, there should be at least a 70 per cent match between the duties of your role and the duties listed for the position on ANZSCO. Example 1: A candidate is working as a Disability Support Worker. The closest ANZSCO occupation for that role would be 4231 Aged and Disabled Carers, which is Skill Level 4. Unless the duties the candidate undertakes substantially match another role that aligns with Skill Level 1, 2 or 3, they would not be able to claim priority attributes for skilled employment. Example 2: An Assistant Accountant role would only be accepted for the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway if there was a 70 per cent match with the duties outlined on ANZSCO for Group 2211 Accountants. Roles that consist mainly of administrative support are not considered skilled roles. For the Tasmanian Skilled Graduate and Tasmanian Established Resident pathways there is more flexibility; the match should be at least 40 per cent. This recognises the need for many recent graduates to obtain experience at entry level before being appointed to and paid at a fully skilled level. However, if the duties of your role align with those of a fully skilled and experienced worker, you are expected to receive pay at the appropriate level. Example 1: A recent accounting graduate working as a junior accountant or accounts assistant may focus on tasks like data entry, reconciling bank statements, processing invoices, or assisting with payroll. These duties might align with 40–50% of the ANZSCO definition, as they are building foundational skills. Their role reflects an entry-level position, so a lower salary might be acceptable for nomination. An accountant performing duties like preparing detailed financial reports, advising on tax strategies, analysing financial risks, and managing budgets would have 70–100% alignment with the ANZSCO definition. Since their role corresponds to the expectations of a fully skilled professional, they would be unlikely to be approved for nomination unless they are paid at the level expected for a qualified accountant. Example 2: A recent graduate working as a commis chef (entry-level chef) may primarily
