Australian Immigration Daily News

This afternoon the Department of Home Affairs released further information on the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF). 

As many would be aware, the Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2018 (the Act), passed by the Parliament of Australia on 9 May 2018, is expected to be implemented during the first quarter of 2018-19.    This means an implementation date between 1 July 2018 and 30 September 2018. 

As the Act states, 

• the SAF Levy will be payable on Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS), subclass 186 and 187 nomination applications; and
• there will be changes to the LMT settings including requiring LMT to be conducted:
  • for a period of four weeks
  • no more than four months before the nomination is lodged
  • such that advertisements set out any skills or experience requirements that are appropriate to the position.

SAF will be administered by the Department of Education and Training.   An estimated $1.5 billion will be available from the Commonwealth for the ongoing Fund between 2017–18 to 2020–22. With matched funding from states and territories, the Fund will support more apprenticeships, traineeships, pre-apprenticeships, pre‑traineeships, and higher apprenticeships.

For temporary visas, the intention is the nomination training contribution charge payable will be calculated according to the number of years, or part thereof, set out in the nomination.  The charge limit for temporary visas is therefore calculated with reference to the proposed nomination training contribution charge for a large business of $1,800 for each year of nomination, for the maximum visa duration of 4 years ($7,200). 

Labour Market Testing (LMT) for TSS update 

Further to recent LMT announcements, the Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that LinkedIn’s online recruitment platform and industry specific recruitment websites that are relevant to the nominated occupationmay be used to satisfy labour market testing requirements for the purposes of 482 visa.  

Migration Alliance will continue to bring you the latest up to date news in leading up to the SAF implementation.

More information: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa-1/482-?modal=/visas/supporting/Pages/482/labour-market-testing-requirement.aspx