Vets and Vet Nurses reconfirmed on new migration occupation list

11 Dec 2024

In recognition of the ongoing shortage of veterinarians and veterinary nurses, both have been included on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). This is a new approach inline with the Federal Government’s Migration Strategy and in part takes the place of the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) that was discontinued in 2022.  

The announcement was closely followed this month with the roll out of new visa arrangements that see the introduction of a new Skills in Demand visa, which replaces the previous Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa and aims to streamline migration pathways for critical occupations. 

The AVA advocated strongly for the inclusion of both veterinarians and veterinary nurses on the Core Skills Occupation List and is pleased to have been successful.  

Skills in Demand visa

The Skills in Demand visa offers a number of streams. The two that are most relevant to the veterinary sector are the: 

  1. Core Skills Stream
  2. Specialist Skills Stream

 

Core Skills Stream: Ensuring ongoing access for veterinarians to skills related visas 

The inclusion of veterinarians and veterinary nurses on the CSOL is a significant win for the profession and addresses the persistent shortage of skilled professionals across the country. While the bulk of Australia’s veterinarians come through our domestic veterinary schools, there is an ongoing need to supplement this by bringing in overseas veterinarians. Being on the CSOL is a key eligibility requirement for the Core Skills stream. To qualify, applicants must also meet a guaranteed annual earnings threshold of at least $70,000, which will be indexed annually to account for inflation. 

Specialist Skills Stream: Expedited Processing for Higher Earners 

The Specialist Skills Stream is designed for highly skilled roles across a broad range of occupations. To qualify, applicants must earn a minimum of $135,000 annually (the Specialist Skills Threshold) and no less than Australian workers in the same role. The stream offers faster visa processing times, making it an attractive option for practices seeking to fill urgent vacancies at the higher end of the salary spectrum. 

For further information, visit their website.