The Construction Visa Subsidy Program (CVSP) is designed to support Western Australian (WA) building and construction businesses to help fill demand for a skilled workforce in the state. The WA Government is investing in this initiative to ensure that WA retains skilled migrants already in the state, as well as to attract interstate and overseas workers with the skills needed by WA businesses.
The program has been introduced to provide financial support to employers and independent skilled migrants to assist them in connecting with employment opportunities in the West Australian building and construction industry. It aims to help address labour shortages in the industry, as well as to assist Western Australian employers to expand their workforce and grow their businesses.
The CVSP is administered by the WA Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD) and provides grant payments of up to $10,000 to support skilled migration visa pathways for overseas workers in Western Australia. Grants may be used to offset costs such as migration agent fees, visa application fees and relocation expenses.
The construction visa subsidy program commenced on 1 July 2023 and will run for a period of 12 months, or until the 1,100 available places are fully allocated.
In this article, we examine how the CVSP works, including its features, eligibility requirements and how to apply for a grant under the program. We also take a look at the Skilled Migrant Employment Register (SMER), a free initiative supporting employers and skilled migrants to connect to build the Western Australian workforce.
We begin our discussion by taking a look at the benefits of the Construction Visa Subsidy Program to West Australian employers and skilled migrants.
Benefits Of The Construction Visa Subsidy Program (CVSP)
The construction visa subsidy program is an innovative solution to address growth and labour challenges faced by the building and construction sector in Western Australia. The program provides financial incentives to employers who sponsor overseas workers, and it attracts skilled overseas talent to the state, helping to revitalise the sector with fresh skills and expertise.
Sponsoring employers are eligible for a grant of up to $10,000 for each skilled migrant that they sponsor, and skilled migrants who are sponsored by the state are eligible for a grant of between $5,000 and $10,000 (depending on whether they are onshore in Australia or offshore). The subsidies offered under the CVSP make it more cost-effective to hire and retain skilled workers from overseas and can significantly reduce labour costs.
The CVSP also provides building and construction companies with access to overseas workers across a range of eligible occupations.
And the construction visa subsidy program offers flexible skilled visa Western Australia options, with a range of construction visa subclasses eligible under the CVSP. This allows the business to choose the best fit to meet its specific workforce needs.
Accessing skilled overseas workers under the CVSP opens up new opportunities to businesses in Western Australia to grow, take on larger projects and improves competitiveness in the building and construction industry.
So how does the CVSP work?
Construction Visa Subsidy Program Streams
The CVSP consists of the following streams:
- CVSP Employer Sponsored Stream – for Western Australian employers who sponsor workers for an employer sponsored construction visa; and
- CVSP State Nominated Stream – for independent skilled migrants who are sponsored for a skilled construction visa by the state of Western Australia.
Let us now take a look at each of these streams and how they operate.
CVSP Employer Sponsored Stream
To be eligible for the Employer Sponsored Stream, employers must sponsor skilled overseas workers for one of the following skilled visa Western Australia subclasses:
- Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa – under the short-term stream (up to two years) or the medium-term stream (up to 4 years);
- Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) Visa – up to five years; or
- Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa – permanent visa.
To be eligible for milestone payments, the employer sponsored construction visa must have been lodged and granted on or after 1 July 2023.
The employer must be headquartered and be undertaking commercial and/or residential building and construction work in Western Australia to qualify under this stream.
The nominated occupation that the employer is seeking to fill must also be an eligible occupation (see the table which lists all eligible occupations further below in this article). You will note on the list of eligible occupations a column titled ‘DAMA.’ This refers to occupations that are eligible for sponsorship for a Subclass 494 SESR visa under a Designated Area Migration Agreement. A DAMA is a type of Labour Agreement. It is a formal agreement between the Australian government and a regional, State or Territory authority that provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration programs.
Please also be mindful that different occupations may be eligible for different visa subclasses.
State Nominated Migration Program Stream
To be eligible for the State Nominated Migration Program Stream, independent skilled migrants must be granted one of the following skilled visa western Australia subclasses through the WA State Nominated Migration Program:
- Subclass 190 Skilled (Nominated) Visa; or
- Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa.
To be eligible for milestone payments, independent skilled migrants must have lodged and been granted their skilled visa Western Australia on or after 1 July 2023.
Applicants must have commenced work for an employer headquartered and undertaking residential and commercial building construction work in WA, and be working in an eligible occupation (see the table of eligible occupations further below in this article).
Please be aware that different occupations may be eligible for different visa subclasses.
Before we delve into the detail of how the CVSP works, let us first provide a summary of the skilled visa Western Australia that may qualify under the construction visa subsidy program.
Employer Sponsored Skilled Visa Western Australia
Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa
The Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa is a temporary employer sponsored construction visa that allows the sponsored worker to live and work in Australia for up to two or four years. It also provides a pathway to permanent residency after the sponsored worker has worked for their sponsoring employer on a full-time basis for at least two out of the last three years (before being nominated for the Subclass 186 ENS permanent residence visa).
The TSS application process consists of three steps:
- the employer must apply for Sponsorship approval to the Department of Home Affairs (the Standard Business Sponsorship term is 5 years);
- the employer must also apply to nominate the position that they are seeking to fill by lodging a nomination application with Home Affairs; and
- the proposed sponsored worker must apply for a TSS visa with Home Affairs.
The employer will be subject to sponsorship obligations that apply to standard business sponsors.
Please refer to our articles on How To Become A Sponsor and a Guide To Australian Sponsorship Visa Costs for more information for potential sponsors.
An employer can also become an accredited sponsor if it meets specified requirements. For further information, please see our article on How To Become An Accredited Sponsor for further information.
We also recommend that you refer to our article on Applying For Temporary Skill Shortage Visa to find out more about the TSS visa, including its key features and requirements, the application process and links to further information so that you can learn more about the Subclass 482 temporary skill shortage visa.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
The Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) visa is a provisional visa that provides a pathway to permanent residence with the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after three years if your sponsored worker meets specified requirements at that time. The SESR visa requires the sponsored worker to live and work in a designated regional area (which includes Western Australia). The term of the subclass 494 SESR visa is five years.
An SESR visa holder can travel to and from Australia on an unrestricted basis over the visa term. They are also entitled to enrol in Medicare.
The SESR visa application process is similar to the TSS visa process, as outlined above, although under the CVSP, the SESR visa also includes eligibility for a Labour Agreement stream (as an alternative to the Standard Business Sponsorship stream).
The SESR visa application process consists of three steps:
- the employer must apply for Sponsorship approval to the Department of Home Affairs (the Standard Business Sponsorship term is 5 years), or apply for a Labour Agreement (which also generally has a 5 year term);
- the employer must also apply to nominate the position that they are seeking to fill by lodging a nomination application with Home Affairs; and
- the proposed sponsored worker must apply to Home Affairs for a SESR visa.
The same sponsorship obligation apply as under the TSS visa program. Although if the employer is sponsoring a worker under a labour agreement, the business must also comply with any additional obligations as stipulated in the labour agreement. As noted above in this article, there is a column in the employer sponsored stream list of eligible occupations titled ‘DAMA.’ This is a type of labour agreement.
To learn more about labour agreements, including the different types of labour agreements and the process for applying for one, please refer to our Labour Agreement Visa article.
Please see our Employer Sponsored 494 Visa Processing Times article to find out more about the SESR visa, including its key features and requirements, the application process and links to further information so that you can learn more about the Subclass 494 visa.
Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa
The Subclass 186 ENS visa program is a permanent employer sponsored construction visa. It comprises of the following visa streams:
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream – a TSS sponsored worker may qualify for permanent residence under this stream after they have worked for their sponsoring employer on a full-time basis for at least two out of the last three years;
- Direct Entry stream – this stream applies to a foreign worker who has at least three years of relevant skilled work experience and a positive skills assessment in their nominated occupation (unless an exemption applies). This stream grants immediate permanent residence (unlike the TRT and labour agreement streams, which require the sponsored worker to hold a subclass 482 visa for a certain period before being eligible for an ENS permanent residency visa);
- Labour Agreement stream – the sponsoring employer must have a labour agreement in place under this stream. The sponsored worker must have the minimum qualifications, experience and English language skills that are suitable to perform the occupation (as set out in the labour agreement). They may be eligible for an ENS permanent residency visa if they hold a subclass 482 visa that was granted in accordance with the terms of the labour agreement. Alternatively, they may qualify for PR under the TRT stream after two years.
This option requires two applications to be lodged: one for the nomination (which relates to the position that the employer is seeking to fill) and one for the visa (which relates to the proposed sponsored worker meeting specified criteria for grant of the visa).
For further information about the subclass 186 ENS visa, we recommend that you refer to our articles on the Employer Nomination Migration Scheme and Australian Skilled Migration Visa List.
State Nominated Migration Program Construction Visa Stream
Subclass 190 Skilled (Nominated) Visa
The Subclass 190 Skilled (Nominated) visa is a permanent residence state sponsored visa that requires nomination approval from a State or Territory Government. Among the subclass 190 visa requirements, the applicant needs to achieve at least 65 points in the Migration Points Test. Points are earned based on several factors, including age, qualifications, skilled employment experience and English language skills. Nomination approval for a subclass 190 visa grants an additional 5 points in the points test.
Another important feature of the subclass 190 visa is that it is based on an invitation system, whereby the applicant must first submit an Expression Of Interest (EOI) with the Department of Home Affairs to express their interest in applying for the construction visa. The applicant also needs to apply for nomination approval to their selected State or Territory Government. If the nomination is approved, the applicant will receive an invitation, which will then enable them to apply for the subclass 190 visa within 60 days. Nomination approvals are issued throughout each month. Check here for the monthly statistics, which show how many nominations were issued by each jurisdiction for that month, and for the migration year to date.
For further information about the Subclass 190 visa, please see our articles on the Subclass 190 State Sponsorship Visa and Adelaide 190 Visa.
Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
The Subclass 491 visa is a provisional regional sponsored visa that provides a pathway to permanent residence after three years via a Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, provided that the applicant satisfies prescribed criteria. It requires an approved sponsorship by a State or Territory Government. It is important to be aware that a subclass 491 visa holder (as with the subclass 494 SESR visa), is required to live and work in a designated regional area of Australia (which includes Western Australia).
Eligible family members may apply to accompany the primary Western Australia visa applicant to Australia as dependent visa applicants.
One of the benefits of a subclass 491 visa is that the visa applicant will receive an extra 15 points towards the migration points test, on account of the regional visa sponsorship. The visa term is five years.
A Subclass 491 visa also operates under the invitation-based system, as applies to the subclass 190 visa outlined above. The difference is that invitation rounds are conducted periodically by the Department of Home Affairs (as opposed to a State or Territory Government as is the case with the subclass 190 visa).
Please refer to our articles on the 491 Visa Adelaide and Subclass 491 Regional Visa to learn more about the Subclass 491 visa, including its features and requirements, and how to apply.
Eligible Occupations Under The CVSP
We now turn to the CVSP itself and how it works. We begin by taking a look at the nominated occupations that may qualify for grants under the CVSP. Different occupation lists apply to the employer sponsored stream versus the state nominated stream. Also keep in mind that different occupations may be eligible for different skilled visa Western Australia subclasses under the construction visa subsidy program.
Which Occupations Are Eligible Under The Employer Sponsored Stream?
The following building and construction occupations are eligible for a grant under the CVSP (employer sponsored stream).
ANZSCO code | ANZSCO Name | DAMA | Subclass 482 Visa | Subclass 494 Visa | Subclass 186 Visa |
133111 | Construction project manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
133112 | Project builder | Yes | Yes | ||
232111 | Architect | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
232112 | Landscape architect | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
232212 | Surveyor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
232611 | Urban and regional planner | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
233211 | Civil engineer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
233213 | Quantity surveyor | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
233214 | Structural engineer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
312111 | Architectural draftsperson | Yes | Yes | ||
312112 | Building associate | Yes | Yes | ||
312113 | Building inspector (This includes building certifiers and building surveyors) | Yes | Yes | ||
312114 | Construction estimator | Yes | Yes | ||
312115 | Plumbing inspector | Yes | |||
312116 | Surveying or spatial science technician | Yes | Yes | ||
312199 | Architectural, building and surveying technicians not elsewhere classified | Yes | Yes | ||
312211 | Civil engineering draftsperson | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
312212 | Civil engineering technician | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
312311 | Electrical Engineering Draftsperson | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
312312 | Electrical Engineering Technician | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
312911 | Maintenance planner | Yes | Yes | ||
312999 | Building and engineering technician nec | Yes | Yes | ||
331111 | Bricklayer | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
331112 | Stonemason | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
331211 | Carpenter and joiner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
331212 | Carpenter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
331213 | Joiner | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
332111 | Floor finisher | Yes | Yes | ||
332211 | Painting trades worker | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
333111 | Glazier | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
333211 | Fibrous plasterer | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
333212 | Solid plasterer | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
333311 | Roof tiler | Yes | Yes | ||
333411 | Wall and floor tiler | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
334111 | Plumber (general) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
334115 | Roof plumber | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
334112 | Air conditioning and mechanical services plumber | Yes | Yes | ||
334113 | Drainer | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
334114 | Gasfitter | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
341111 | Electrician (general) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
341112 | Electrician (special class) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
341113 | Lift mechanic | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
342111 | Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
342411 | Cabler (data and telecommunications) | Yes | Yes | ||
362213 362711 | Landscape gardener | Yes | Yes | ||
394111 | Cabinetmaker | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
399912 | Interior decorator | Yes | |||
399918 | Fire protection equipment technician | Yes | |||
511111 | Contract administrator | Yes | Yes | ||
712111 | Crane, hoist or lift operator | Yes | |||
721211 | Earthmoving plant operator (general) | Yes | |||
721212 | Backhoe operator | Yes | |||
721214 | Excavator operator | Yes | |||
721216 | Loader operator | Yes | |||
721915 | Road roller operator | Yes | |||
821211 | Concreter | Yes | |||
821712 | Scaffolder | Yes | |||
821713 | Steel fixer | Yes | |||
821912 | Driller’s assistant | Yes |
Which Occupations Are Eligible Under The State Nominated Migration Program Stream?
The following building and construction occupations are eligible for a grant under the CVSP (state nominated migration program stream).
ANZSCO code | ANZSCO Occupation Name | Subclass 190 Visa | Subclass 491 Visa |
133111 | Construction project manager | Yes | Yes |
133112 | Project builder | Yes | |
232111 | Architect | Yes | Yes |
232112 | Landscape architect | Yes | Yes |
232212 | Surveyor | Yes | Yes |
232611 | Urban and regional planner | Yes | Yes |
233211 | Civil engineer | Yes | Yes |
233213 | Quantity surveyor | Yes | Yes |
233214 | Structural engineer | Yes | Yes |
312111 | Architectural draftsperson | Yes | Yes |
312113 | Building inspector (This includes building certifiers and building surveyors) | Yes | Yes |
312114 | Construction estimator | Yes | |
312116 | Surveying or spatial science technician | Yes | |
312199 | Architectural, building and surveying technicians not elsewhere classified | Yes | Yes |
312211 | Civil engineering draftsperson | Yes | Yes |
312212 | Civil engineering technician | Yes | Yes |
312311 | Electrical Engineering Draftsperson | Yes | Yes |
312312 | Electrical Engineering Technician | Yes | Yes |
312911 | Maintenance planner | Yes | |
312999 | Building and engineering technician nec | Yes | |
331111 | Bricklayer | Yes | Yes |
331112 | Stonemason | Yes | Yes |
331211 | Carpenter and joiner | Yes | Yes |
331212 | Carpenter | Yes | Yes |
331213 | Joiner | Yes | Yes |
332111 | Floor finisher | Yes | |
332211 | Painting trades worker | Yes | Yes |
333111 | Glazier | Yes | Yes |
333211 | Fibrous plasterer | Yes | Yes |
333212 | Solid plasterer | Yes | Yes |
333311 | Roof tiler | Yes | Yes |
333411 | Wall and floor tiler | Yes | Yes |
334111 | Plumber (general) | Yes | Yes |
334115 | Roof plumber | Yes | Yes |
334112 | Air conditioning and mechanical services plumber | Yes | Yes |
334113 | Drainer | Yes | Yes |
334114 | Gasfitter | Yes | Yes |
341111 | Electrician (general) | Yes | Yes |
341112 | Electrician (special class) | Yes | Yes |
341113 | Lift mechanic | Yes | Yes |
342111 | Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic | Yes | Yes |
342411 | Cabler (data and telecommunications) | Yes | Yes |
362213 362711 | Landscape gardener | Yes | Yes |
394111 | Cabinetmaker | Yes | Yes |
How Do The Milestone Payments Work Under the CVSP?
Employer Sponsored Stream
Eligible employers can receive payments of up to $10,000 per skilled migrant, at three milestone payment points:
- Milestone 1 – $2,000;
- Milestone 2 – $4,000; and
- Milestone 3 – $4,000.
How To Apply For Milestone Payments Under The Employer Sponsored Stream
Step 1: Lodge A Milestone 1 Claim With WA Migration Services
The process for lodging a claim for milestone payment 1 of $2,000 will depend on how many skilled migrants an employer is seeking to sponsor.
If the business is making a milestone 1 claim for one skilled migrant, it needs to:
- complete the CVSP Employer Sponsored Stream – Milestone 1 – Claim Form;
- agree to comply with the Construction Visa Subsidy Program Terms and Conditions;
- declare its intent to become a sponsor with the Department of Home Affairs, and sponsor a skilled migrant; and
- submit the completed claim form.
If the business is making milestone 1 claims for two to five skilled migrants, in addition to the above, it must also provide a brief outline of planned and upcoming work including the occupations in which the sponsored skilled migrant will be working in.
If the business is making milestone 1 claims for six or more skilled migrants, in addition to the above, it must also:
- provide confirmation of registration as a sponsor with the Department of Home Affairs;
- provide a business plan demonstrating the need for additional skilled workers, and include the occupations its sponsored skilled migrants will be working in; and
- describe its plans for onboarding and supporting its skilled migrants.
Importantly, a business can enter the CVSP program even if it doesn’t yet have a skilled migrant that it would like to sponsor. The business can receive its first milestone payment and then find an employee to sponsor.
Step 2: Find A Skilled Migrant To Sponsor
If the business has not already found a skilled migrant that it would like to sponsor, it can enter its details on DTWD’s Skilled Migrant Employment Register (SMER). The SMER can help connect the business with skilled migrants who have indicated that they are seeking employment opportunities in WA, including preferred occupation, current location and employment intentions. Further information about the SMER, including how to register, is provided further below in this article.
The business must ensure that its prospective sponsored worker is eligible for the relevant employer sponsored visa. A business can contact a Registered Migration Agent who will assess its eligibility to sponsor, and the applicant’s eligibility to qualify for an employer sponsored visa.
PAX Migration Australia can manage the sponsorship, nomination and visa applications on a business’ behalf. We can also apply for the CVSP on its behalf. Book a consultation with us to learn about how we can help your business.
Step 3: Apply To Become A Sponsor With The Department Of Home Affairs
The next step is to lodge a sponsorship application and a nomination application for the occupation and the skilled migrant that the business is seeking to sponsor.
Step 4: Assist Your Skilled Migrant To Apply For A Visa With The Department Of Home Affairs
The business should work with the skilled migrant and/or Registered Migration Agent to select the visa that they are eligible for.
The applicant needs to lodge a visa application with the Department of Home Affairs.
Step 5: Lodge A Milestone 2 Claim With WA Migration Services
Once the skilled migrant’s visa has been granted, the business needs to complete CVSP Employer Sponsored Stream – Milestone 2 – Claim Form to receive its second payment of $4,000.
Step 6: Lodge A Milestone 3 Claim With WA Migration Services
Once the skilled migrant has commenced employment with the business and has received their first payslip, the business needs to complete a CVSP Employer Sponsored Stream – Milestone 3 – Claim Form to receive its final payment of $4,000.
State Nominated Stream
To be eligible to access the CVSP as an independent skilled migrant, applicants must have been granted a Western Australia visa through WA’s State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP).
Once a skilled visa Western Australia is granted through the SNMP stream, eligible independent skilled migrants are eligible to receive payments of up to $10,000.
Payments will be disbursed at two milestone points:
- Milestone 1 – $5,000 (for offshore applicants) or $2,500 (for onshore applicants); and
- Milestone 2 – $5,000 (for offshore applicants) or $2,500 (for onshore applicants).
To be eligible for payments as an offshore applicant, skilled migrants must have lodged their Western Australia visa while residing outside of Australia on or after 1 July 2023.
To be eligible for payments as an onshore applicant, skilled migrants must have lodged their Western Australia visa while residing in Australia on or after 1 July 2023.
Skilled migrants are required to support their claim for payment at each milestone point with specified documentation requirements.
How To Apply For Milestone Payments Under The State Nominated Stream
Step 1: Lodge An Expression Of Interest In SkillSelect (With The Department Of Home Affairs)
The first step is to lodge an Expression Of Interest (EOI) with the Department of Home Affairs, and indicate your interest in WA State nomination.
Step 2: Connect With An Employer
If you are not able to find an eligible employer, you can enter your details on the Skilled Migrant Employment Register (SMER). The SMER allows you to indicate your interest to work in WA and provides the opportunity for an employer to connect with you. Further information about the SMER is provided further below in this article.
You may also choose to engage a Registered Migration Agent to assist you through the visa process. PAX Migration Australia can manage your Western Australia visa application and CVSP application for you. Contact us to book a consultation today.
Step 3: Register Your Western Australia Visa Approval With WA Migration Services
Once you have been approved for WA State Nomination and your Western Australia visa has been granted by the Department of Home Affairs, register your arrival and visa approval with WA Migration Services.
Step 4: Lodge A Milestone 1 Claim With WA Migration Services
When you have commenced your employment with an eligible employer and received your first payslip, complete the CVSP State Nominated Stream – Milestone 1 – Claim Form to receive your first payment of $5,000 (for offshore applicants) or $2,500 (for onshore applicants).
Step 5: Lodge A Milestone 2 Claim With WA Migration Services
When you have completed six months of work in WA’s construction industry, complete the CVSP State Nominated Stream – Milestone 2 – Claim Form to receive your final payment of $5,000 (for offshore applicants) or $2,500 (for onshore applicants).
What Are The Program Level Targets Under The CVSP?
The following program level targets are considered in the allocation of program places:
- trade v para-professional/professional occupations;
- mix of occupations;
- reasonable spread of employers (employer sponsored); and
- reasonable mix of metropolitan and regional places.
What Costs Are Eligible For A Subsidy Under The CVSP?
Applicants can use the subsidy to offset costs incurred in the migration process. This includes:
- recruitment costs;
- fees paid to a Registered Migration Agent;
- visa application fees; and
- relocation costs.
Who Is Excluded From The CVSP?
The CVSP is not available to:
- labour hire companies and Group Training Organisations (GTOs) as direct employers; or
- State and Commonwealth government agencies.
Skilled Migrant Employment Register (SMER)
As mentioned earlier in this article, the Skilled Migrant Employment Register (SMER) helps connect employers in Western Australia with skilled migrants who have indicated that they are seeking employment opportunities in WA, including preferred occupation, current location and employment intentions.
The SMER also enables skilled migrants to indicate their interest to work in Western Australia and provides the opportunity for an employer to connect with them.
Here we explain how the SMER operates.
What Is The SMER?
The Skilled Migrant Employment Register is a free initiative supporting employers and skilled migrants to connect to build the Western Australian workforce.
Information For Employers Seeking To Build Their Workforce In Western Australia
The Skilled Migrant Employment Register enables verified employers to connect with skilled migrants that may align with their business needs. Migration WA’s Portal offers an automated job matching function which makes suitable employer matches sooner.
Here is how the SMER works for Western Australian businesses:
Step 1: Sign Up For Migration WA’s Portal
An employer with current job vacancies in Western Australia can sign up for the Migration WA Portal and create a profile.
Step 2: Complete A Registration
Once the employer has created a portal profile, they then need to complete a registration to join the Skilled Migrant Employment Register.
Step 3: List Current WA Job Vacancies
To use the automated job matching function, the employer needs to list their current WA job vacancies in the registration. They can then select how often they would like to be notified of new matches.
Step 4: Login To The Portal
Registered employers can log into the portal at their convenience to update their profile and vacancies, view their new matches, and easily connect with migrants who align with their business needs.
Employers can search the SMER based on the following parameters:
- current residence
- current residential status
- preferred employment status
- preferred WA work locations
- desired occupation
Employers can review the register and send an enquiry to Migration Services when they find a skilled migrant that they would like to connect with.
Employers can sign up for the SMER here.
Information For Skilled Migrants Seeking Employment In Western Australia
Here is how the SMER works for skilled migrants seeking employment opportunities:
Step 1: Sign Up To The Migration WA Portal
Skilled migrants who would like to connect with employers across Western Australia can sign up for the Migration WA Portal and create a profile.
Step 2: Complete a Registration
Once a profile has been created, a skilled migrant needs to complete a registration to join the Skilled Migrant Employment Register, where they can promote their desired employment occupation/s, location, skills, and experience to employers with current WA job vacancies.
The skilled migrant’s information will be published on the Skilled Migrant Employment Register, where the automated job matching function may direct verified employers with current WA job vacancies to view their registration. The skilled migrant’s personal information and uploaded documents will be shared if they match with an interested employer.
Step 3: Employers Can Connect With The Skilled Migrant
If an employer wishes to connect with the skilled migrant, they will send them an Invitation to Connect via the Migration WA Portal.
Step 4: Login To The Portal
A registered skilled migrant can log into the Portal at their convenience to update their profile, upload their employment related documents and manage their Invitations to Connect.
Skilled migrants can sign up for the SMER here.
Get More Information
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Contact us to book a no-obligation consultation to find out more about applying for a grant under the Western Australian Construction Visa Subsidy Program. We understand that each construction company has unique needs and challenges, and we tailor our services to best meet your requirements.
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In conclusion, we note that the above discussion provides an overview of Western Australia’s Construction Visa Subsidy Program. We also provide links to further information so that you can learn more about the visas that are eligible for grants under the CVSP.
Australia’s migration laws are complex, and each case is different. We recommend that you seek professional advice if you are seeking to apply for a skilled Western Australia visa, or if you are an employer who is seeking to sponsor overseas workers in your business, including applying for a grant under the CVSP, as being fully informed will give you the best chance of achieving a successful outcome on your case. A migration professional can help you to do this.
For up-to-date advice on Western Australia’s Construction Visa Subsidy Program, book your confidential consultation with a migration agent in Adelaide. PAX Migration Australia is a leading immigration advice service based in Adelaide.