The Australian Government is supporting stronger economic growth through pilot (temporary) programs to increase workforce participation for skilled migrants and address critical skills shortages in Australia.
Active Skills Assessment Pilots
- Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants Pilot is open and accepting applications.
- Employability Assessments Pilot is open and accepting applications.
If you are interested and believe you may meet the eligibility criteria outlined below, please contact the Assessing Authority that assesses the priority occupation you wish to work in.
Skills Assessment Pilots overview
The Pilots will benefit up to 9,500 onshore migrants who will have access to:
- fast-tracked skills assessments
- free employability assessments
- advice and access to further training to improve their employment prospects.
This will help Australian businesses and industries address workforce pressures and support increased workforce participation of migrants.
For more information on the Pilots, see below:
- Skills Assessment and Assessing Authorities – FAQs
- Skills Assessment Pilots – Fact Sheet
- Skills Assessment Pilots – FAQs
Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants Pilot (active)
What is the Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants Pilot?
This pilot offers onshore migrants who reside in Australia a free, fast-tracked skills assessment. Migrants eligible for this Pilot include people in the following visa categories:
- Family visa subclass
- Partner visa subclass
- Humanitarian visa subclass
- Refugee visa subclass.
This Pilot is available to migrants who have never undergone a skills assessment and who have skills, qualifications and/or experience directly relevant to a priority occupation.
Who is this Pilot for?
You may be eligible if you:
- have not previously undergone a skills assessment for your nominated occupation
- are living in Australia at the time you submit your application
- hold an eligible visa subclass that was granted on or after 1 January 2016.
Why should you apply to this Pilot?
Applicants who receive a suitable outcome as part of this Pilot can use their assessment to improve their employment options in their nominated occupation. This gives future employers confidence that the applicant has the skills necessary for working in an Australian workplace.
Applications for the Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants Pilot
If you are interested and believe you may meet the eligibility criteria, please contact the Assessing Authority that assesses the priority occupation you wish to work in.
Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants Pilot resources
- Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants – Fact Sheet
- Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants – FAQs
- Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants – Flyer
- Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants – Occupation List
- Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants Pilot – Visa List
Employability Assessments Pilot
What is the Employability Assessments Pilot?
This Pilot offers onshore migrants with suitable skills assessments:
- One employability assessment
- One check-in session
- One coaching session
- One personalised plan to develop your employability skills
- Up to $3,000 to cover employability skills training
This Pilot enables applicants to gain the specific skills required in the Australian job market.
Who is this Pilot for?
You may be eligible if you:
- Received a suitable skills assessment outcome in a priority occupation on or after 1 January 2019.
- Have held your suitable skills assessment in a priority occupation for at least 12 months.
- Are in paid employment below your skill level at the time of applying.
- Have worked at least 40 hours per fortnight within the last month. This includes work you have performed with more than one employer.
- Are residing in Australia at the time you submit your application.
- Hold an eligible permanent visa subclass.
- Are not registered as a job seeker or have an active referral with Workforce Australia, Disability Employment Services or the Community Development Program.
- Have not previously been involved with the Pilot.
Why should you apply for this Pilot?
An employability skills assessment and subsidised training may help you gain the skills you need in the Australian job market.
Applying for the Employability Assessments Pilot
Assessing Authorities will contact previous suitable skills assessment applicants in their database and provide them with an Introductory Information Pack and an Application Form.
If you are interested and believe you may meet the eligibility criteria, please contact the Assessing Authority that completed your suitable skills assessment.
Employability Assessments Pilot resources
- Employability Assessments for Migrants – Fact Sheet
- Employability Assessments – FAQs
- Employability Assessments for Migrants – Flyer
- Employability Assessments – Occupation List
- Employability Assessments Pilot – Visa List
More Information
If you would like more information on how to apply for the pilots, please contact your occupation’s Assessing Authority.
Faster Migrant Skills Assessments (no longer active)
This Pilot finished on 17 June 2022 and is closed to new applications.
The Pilot offered fast-tracked skills assessments for onshore migrants who had already submitted and paid for an application in a priority occupation and were awaiting an outcome.