Can I Migrate to Australia as a Nurse/Chef/IT/Teacher/Accountant?

At VJ Consulting and Education, we work with skilled migrants across a wide range of occupations — and the pathway that works for one profession can look very different from another.

#Can I migrate to Australia as a nurse?

Nursing is one of the strongest occupations for Australian migration right now, and that position is unlikely to change. Registered Nurses (ANZSCO 254111) appear on virtually every state and territory's skilled occupation list, and the occupation has featured prominently in every official skilled shortage report published by the Department of Home Affairs in recent years. Among the applicants VJCE has assisted, nurses consistently represent one of the stronger-positioned cohorts, though registration timelines and state nomination requirements still vary enough to warrant careful, occupation-specific planning.

The primary skills assessing body is the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). Once you hold a positive assessment, you can lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and target either the Subclass 189 visa, Subclass 190 visa, or Subclass 491 visa.

For nurses already working in Australia — particularly in aged care — the Subclass 186 visa Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream is a well-used pathway. One of our clients asked whether two years of full-time RN work in aged care in NSW qualified her for the 186 Direct Entry stream — the answer is that the TRT stream (via an existing 482 employer) is typically the cleaner route once you have that employment history.

A migration agent we work with cautions: "Healthcare will always be in demand, but approval depends on multiple factors — English results, genuine skills recognition, funds, and overall case strength, not grades alone."

Tip: Regional nursing roles unlock the 491 pathway and require fewer points. If metropolitan 190 invitations are competitive, regional placement is a practical and fast alternative.

→ Deep Dive: In-Demand Occupations in Australia

#Can a chef get PR in Australia?

Yes, chefs can get PR — but the pathway requires more planning than many applicants expect. The occupation is split between Chef (ANZSCO 351311) and Cook (ANZSCO 351411), and the distinction matters: Chef is more broadly listed and attracts stronger state nomination interest.

Skills assessment is conducted by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) or, for some candidates, through a skills assessment via a Registered Training Organisation. The process typically takes 4–8 months and requires documented work experience.

One of our clients noted in an occupation discussion that completing Australian qualifications and having over three years of chef experience strengthens both the skills assessment and the points claim — and that Australian study in a regional area could also qualify for the post-study work visa, adding a further 5 points toward the skilled migration total.

A migration agent responding to a client in a visa support group observed: "If you are claiming 10 partner skills points, your partner must have a positive skills assessment in an eligible occupation, be under the applicable age limit, and demonstrate Competent English at the time you receive an invitation."

Tip: Chefs with experience in regional Australia — particularly in hospitality-starved areas of Queensland, South Australia, or Tasmania — find state nomination considerably more accessible than metro pathways.

→ Deep Dive: How to Migrate to Australia by Occupation

#Can IT professionals get sponsored?

IT professionals can get sponsored, but this is the most competitive skilled category in Australia's migration system and the one where applicants most often misread their own prospects. Employer sponsorship via the 482 visa remains available across a wide range of ICT roles, but the independent skilled visa pathway has become exceptionally difficult for roles like Software Engineer, Data Analyst, and Business Analyst — precisely because the points pool is flooded with candidates holding similar profiles.

According to a snapshot of recent EOI rounds compiled by migration consultancies, ICT Business Analyst invitations are clearing at around 100 points — effectively requiring maximum scores across English, age, qualifications, and experience before a single extra point becomes decisive.

One of our clients — a data analyst with a Master's degree from an Australian university, strong SQL and Python skills, and multiple industry certifications — described four years of job searching in Australia's IT market as humbling:

The skills assessment body for most IT roles is the Australian Computer Society (ACS). A positive ACS assessment is the foundation of any skilled IT visa application.

Tip: If your IT specialisation is oversaturated (data science, general software development), explore niche roles — cybersecurity, OT/ICS engineering, cloud infrastructure — where competition is lower and employer sponsorship demand is higher.

→ Deep Dive: In-Demand Occupations in Australia

#Is teaching a good occupation for migration?

Teaching is a viable migration occupation, but the outcomes are highly state-dependent and subject to strict registration requirements. Secondary school teachers in maths, science, and special education are consistently in demand. Primary teachers and generalist secondary teachers face tighter state nomination quotas.

The key complication is that each state's teacher registration board — NESA in NSW, VIT in Victoria, QCT in Queensland — has its own requirements, and a skills assessment through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) does not automatically grant you state registration. These are two separate processes.

Recent EOI data from occupation snapshot reports shows Secondary School Teacher invitations clearing around 80 points — achievable but requiring a solid overall profile.

A Subclass 190 visa nomination from a state government is the most practical route for most teachers. Some states — particularly Western Australia and South Australia — have run dedicated teacher recruitment initiatives and process nominations faster.

Tip: Demonstrating subject-specific teaching experience (not just a general education degree) significantly strengthens genuineness of occupation in state nomination applications.

→ Deep Dive: How to Migrate to Australia by Occupation

#Can accountants get PR in Australia?

Accountants can get PR, but this occupation has become one of the most oversaturated in the skilled migration pool. Roles like Accountant (General) and Management Accountant attract extremely high competition in EOI rounds, with invitation scores for the 189 visa consistently clearing at 90+ points — which effectively shuts out most mid-career applicants without near-perfect profiles. In VJ Consulting and Education's experience, accountants frequently underestimate how competitive the points pool has become for this occupation, making early skills assessment and a realistic EOI strategy more important than ever.

The skills assessment body for accounting is CPA Australia, CAANZ (Chartered Accountants ANZ), or IPA, depending on your background and which pathway you pursue.

One of our clients — an experienced accountant — was frustrated to discover that the visa landscape had changed substantially since she started planning her migration. The 190 state nomination or 491 regional pathway are now the more realistic routes for most accounting applicants, particularly those who can demonstrate genuine regional employment or employer support.

Tip: Accounting is worth pursuing if you can target less-competitive ANZSCO codes, secure a regional employer, or combine the 491 pathway with genuine long-term regional employment plans.

→ Deep Dive: In-Demand Occupations in Australia

#Can I migrate as a mechanic?

Yes — automotive trades, including Motor Mechanic (General) (ANZSCO 321211), are listed on most state skilled occupation lists and have shown consistent invitation activity. Trades more broadly have performed well in recent EOI rounds compared to professional white-collar occupations, partly because the volume of applicants is lower and employer demand is more tangible.

Skills assessment for mechanics is conducted by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), and the process typically requires documented overseas trade qualifications and evidence of employment history. Australian trade equivalence testing may be required.

One of our clients noted that processing times for trade occupations including mechanics have been relatively fast compared to professional categories — a reflection of clearer occupation shortage signals in the trades sector.

Tip: Western Australia and Queensland have historically run strong trade nomination programs. If you have employer interest from those states, prioritise 190 nomination over waiting for an independent 189 invitation.

→ Deep Dive: How to Migrate to Australia by Occupation

#Can electricians get sponsored?

Electricians are among the most in-demand trade occupations in Australia and can be sponsored — but there is a licensing requirement that adds a step most applicants underestimate. Unlike some occupations where skills assessment alone is sufficient, electricians must obtain state-based electrical licensing before they can legally work, and each state's licensing authority has different requirements for overseas-trained electricians.

Skills assessment is through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). After a positive TRA assessment, you still need to engage the relevant state licensing body — such as Energy Safe Victoria or the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) in Western Australia.

For the visa itself, the 482 Skills in Demand visa via employer sponsorship is the fastest route if you have a confirmed job offer. The 190 and 491 skilled nominated pathways are available for those without a sponsor, with invitation scores for electricians typically clearing around 65–75 points.

Tip: Secure the skills assessment and begin licensing enquiries simultaneously — the licensing process can take 3–6 months independently and should not be left until after visa grant.

→ Deep Dive: In-Demand Occupations in Australia

#Is engineering on the skilled occupation list?

Engineering is on the skilled occupation list, and across most engineering disciplines — civil, mechanical, electrical, structural, chemical — there are active occupations listed in SkillSelect. However, outcomes vary substantially by specialisation. Civil and structural engineering attract strong demand; petroleum and mining engineering fluctuate with commodity cycles. VJ Consulting agents generally advise engineering candidates to confirm which specific ANZSCO unit group applies to their role before lodging a skills assessment, as the pathway and assessing body can differ significantly across engineering disciplines.

The skills assessment body for most engineering roles is Engineers Australia (EA), which operates one of the more demanding assessment processes in the skilled migration system. The assessment pathway depends on your qualification type: CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) for non-accredited degrees, or a Washington/Sydney/Dublin Accord pathway for accredited qualifications.

For engineers targeting the Subclass 189 visa, invitation scores are competitive but more achievable than in accounting or general IT, particularly for civil and infrastructure disciplines. The 190 and 491 pathways also attract regular engineering invitations.

Tip: A CDR prepared poorly is the single most common cause of Engineers Australia rejection. If your degree is not from an accredited institution, budget 3–4 months for professional CDR preparation.

→ Deep Dive: How to Migrate to Australia by Occupation

#Can hairdressers get PR?

Hairdressers can get PR, but this is one of the more challenging trade pathways — not because the occupation is excluded, but because state nomination quotas for Hairdresser (ANZSCO 391111) are limited and tend to be opened and closed based on annual workforce planning decisions. In some program years, certain states simply do not list hairdressing at all.

Skills assessment for hairdressers is through the Australian Skills Assessment Authority (ASQA) via a Registered Training Organisation, or through TRA depending on pathway and jurisdiction.

One of the clients we assisted with a trade visa inquiry noted that regional areas — particularly rural Queensland and South Australia — have consistent shortfalls in qualified hairdressers, making the 491 regional pathway the most realistic option for most applicants in this occupation.

Tip: Before investing in a skills assessment, confirm hairdressing is currently listed by at least two states you would genuinely be willing to live and work in. State lists are updated at the start of each program year and can change mid-year.

→ Deep Dive: In-Demand Occupations in Australia

#Can I migrate as a social worker?

Social work is a viable migration occupation and one where processing times have historically been faster than average — a reflection of genuine workforce shortages in community services, disability support coordination, mental health, and child protection. Social Worker (ANZSCO 272511) appears on most state occupation lists and the national MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List).

The skills assessment body is the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), and the process requires a recognised social work qualification — AASW has specific educational standards that do not accommodate all overseas degrees equally. Some applicants from countries with different social work training models find they need bridging studies.

One of our clients — a social worker transitioning from a temporary visa — noted that the combination of genuine occupation shortage and a well-prepared AASW assessment resulted in a straightforward pathway, with state nomination received within one program round of submitting her EOI.

Tip: If your overseas social work degree does not meet AASW's educational equivalency standards, a Graduate Diploma in Social Work from an Australian university is the fastest remediation pathway and also earns you Australian study points.

→ Deep Dive: How to Migrate to Australia by Occupation

#What all these occupations have in common — and where they differ

Every occupation discussed above accesses the same core architecture:

Where occupations diverge is in which body assesses them, which lists they appear on, and how competitive EOI rounds are. A nurse and an IT business analyst both need 65+ points to submit an EOI — but the nurse might receive a 190 invitation at 75 points while the IT analyst waits indefinitely at 90.

The single most important step any skilled migrant can take is to confirm their exact ANZSCO code before beginning a skills assessment — selecting the wrong code wastes months and fees.

→ Deep Dive: How to Migrate to Australia by Occupation

#Ready to assess your occupation pathway?

Every occupation pathway has technical nuances that generic information cannot fully address — the right ANZSCO code, the correct skills assessing body, whether your experience is assessable, and which states are currently inviting your occupation all change regularly.

At VJ Consulting, our MARA-registered agents assess your complete profile — occupation, qualifications, English results, work history, and personal circumstances — to map the most realistic and efficient pathway to Australian residency.

Book a consultation with our team: Contact VJ Consulting to speak with a registered migration agent about your occupation-specific options.