Australian Immigration Daily News

Many migrants will be aware that skills assessment can be a cumbersome as well as stressful process.  Just as diverse as a visa application criterion for 99 visas we have in Australia, a Skills Assessment comes in all different shapes and level of difficulty.  Whilst in most situations, where a Skills Assessment is required, the situation is unavoidable, the process of completing a Skills Assessment can be streamlined by approaching a few basic techniques which will help you in the long run.

Know your skills Assessment Body

This is Skills Assessment lesson 101.  How well do you know your skills assessment body?  For example, if you are required to complete a Skills Assessment via Engineers Australia, do you know what stream you are required to apply under?  How long will the assessment take and what is involved as part of your assessment?  Trades Recognition Australia may ask you to complete a practical component therefore knowing some background information about your Skills Assessment body is vital to success of your application.

Gather all the documents

You will note that all Skills Assessment Bodies have their unique checklists.  Some require you to provide evidence of your qualifications.  Others may require you to provide evidence of employment experience.  The format in which the documents are provide can also differ.  Whilst most Skills Assessment bodies will now accept electronic copies of applications, the documents may need to be certified or colour copied.

Do your research

It is worthwhile to do some research on your Skills Assessment body.  For example, you may need to know how to get in touch with them if you need a status update.  You may also want to know common trends and pitfalls of the skills assessment body to avoid a similar mistake.   Some Skills Assessment bodies offer expedited assessment for a fee.  If your application is urgent, you may wish to take up that offer (especially in the event where you are faced with imminent visa expiry).

Ask for help

Whether you are an immigration practitioner with 20 years of experience, a newly registered agent, HR professional lodging an application for your employee or a visa applicant, asking for help is the biggest favour you can do for your self and your client if you are unsure of the process involved.  The stakes of getting the process are high which may include subsequent visa refusal and having to leave Australia.  Not to mention the costs involved with relodging the application.  Skills Assessments are complex which is why there are many different skills assessment bodies.  It is extremely difficult to be familiar with all the requirements at any given time and the requirements change on what seems to be a daily basis.  If you are in trouble, ask for help.

Examples of Skills Assessment bodies

VETASSESS

VETASSESS is a common skill assessing body assessing trades and professional occupations.  Their clients include individuals seeking their skills assessed and/or recognised, as well as government departments, service organisation and private enterprises, on whose behalf they develop and conduct assessment.

TRA

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) offers several different skills assessments.  The Migration Skills Assessment Program (MSA) for example is for applicants applying for a permanent skilled migration visa in occupations and countries not covered by Registered Training Organisations (RTO) approved by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA).

It is a paper-based skills assessment of qualification/s and employment history to determine comparability with Australian standards for a skilled worker in the nominated occupation.

CPA

CPA will assess as designated assessing authority for the following occupations:

Accountant (general) – 221111

External auditor – 221213

Finance manager – 132211

Management accountant – 221112

Taxation accountant – 221113

CPA Australia can assess for:

Full skills assessment: Points tested and employer sponsored visas

Provisional assessment: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Graduate Work stream

Skilled employment assessment: Optional – requires 'Suitable' outcome for full skills assessment.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA

Engineers Australia is the designated authority for assessing skills and competencies related to engineering occupations in Australia. EA works with the Department of Home Affairs, migration agents and international organisations to develop streamlined migration skills assessment procedures for engineers.

Every year, EA helps thousands of engineers in and outside of Australia achieve their goals.

Summary

Skills Assessment is a difficult process however, with a few simple strategies, the process is manageable.  Remember to know, gather, research and ask for help when required.