Victorian government launches Overseas Skills Registry

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Created on Monday, 18 November 2013 16:30

Written by Editorial staff

On Thursday, November 14, the Victorian government launched an Overseas Skills Registry. This should help people who have recently arrived on immigration visas to find work in the state.

It's basically an online platform that enables skilled migrant workers to connect with Victorian employers with positions to fill.

Louise Asher, Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, said the Overseas Skills Registry is "unique" in that it only features skilled migrant workers who are living in Victoria, legally allowed to work here and have passed either a skills assessment or gained a qualification in Australia.

Two groups of skilled migrant workers are currently eligible to use the online platform: state-nominated skilled migrants and international students who have graduated and possess some work experience.

Ms Asher explained that state-nominated skilled migrants are people who have been granted a state-nominated visa by the Victorian government. They must also be permanent residents of Australia and looking to fill in-demand occupations.

Any international students who use the Overseas Skills Registry must have graduated from a university in Victoria with a degree or some higher-level qualification. They need to have a minimum of two years' work experience and possess skills that are in-demand.

The Victorian government plans to expand this to tradespeople and professionals with overseas qualifications in the near future.

"I am confident the Overseas Skills Registry will help skilled migrants and overseas qualified professionals to enter the local workforce, build their careers and contribute to the Victorian economy," she said.

Australian migration agents can assist both skilled migrant workers and Victorian employers with creating an account on the Overseas Skills Registry.

Once this is done, skilled migrant workers can list their professional details - experience, qualifications, etc. - on the online platform, so Victorian employers can scroll through and decide which candidates might be suitable.

Trying to break into the job market in Australia is one of the toughest challenges skilled migrant workers face when they arrive in our country. The Overseas Skills Registry should make the transition easier and help people grow their professional network more quickly.

"This initiative is an election commitment of the Coalition Government and is a win-win for both skilled migrants and businesses that have been hampered by roles they have not been able to fill locally,” said Ms Asher.