Regional classification for Perth
The RSMS visa program allows Australian employers in regional and low population growth areas of Australia to nominate foreign skilled workers to fill relevant vacancies within their businesses. This visa program provides concessions for employers and visa applicants in recognition of the difficulties many regional or remote communities face when attracting skilled workers.
The family sponsored regional GSM visas are for skilled people who are sponsored by eligible family members, who are Australian citizens or permanent residents living in a designated area ofAustralia.
The affected visa subclasses are:
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 119 & 857);
- Skilled Regional Sponsored (provisional) (Subclass 475);
- Skilled Regional Sponsored (provisional) (Subclass 487); and
- Skilled Regional (permanent) (Subclass 887).
As a result, employers located inPerthwill be able to recruit and sponsor skilled workers for a greater range of occupations than currently available under the Temporary Business (Long Stay) Subclass 457 and provide Perth with broader access to migrants under other permanent skilled visa programs. This means that the whole of Western Australia will be eligible for these programs.
Skilled Migrant Profile— Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
Australia relies on skilled migration to meet the growing demands on its health system. Our latest ImmiTV migrant profile features Andrea, a British nurse manager who immigrated to Australia with her husband, Paul, and two daughters, through the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS).
While attending a Skills Australia Needs event in London, Andrea met a representative from the City of Greater Geelong Council who later helped her secure employment in the Victorian public health sector.
The family have been living in Geelong for more than a year and have thoroughly enjoyed their new life in Australia. The children have settled easily into school with one of the girls joining a local footy team. ‘She knows more about the Australian Football League (AFL) code than I do!’ laughed Paul.
They made friends through the local ‘buddy’ system established by the City of Greater Geelong’s Skilled Migration Project, where a skilled migrant family ‘adopted’ them soon after they arrived in the area, answering their many questions about life in Australia.
Andrea is now pursuing a master’s degree at university to further her career as a highly qualified public health professional.
Permanent regional migration visas, including RSMS, are afforded the highest processing priority. RSMS enables regional Australian employers to sponsor overseas skilled workers for permanent residence in Australia, filling skilled vacancies in their business where the local labour market cannot meet demand.
