VETASSESS  is one of the leading skills assessment bodies in Australia for most of the level-3 trade occupations skills assessment.

The organisation recently announced that that from September 25 2023, the VETASSESS will pause acceptance of new applications for assessment for the following trade occupations to allow it to process the backlog of applications currently on-hand:

• Chef, ANZSCO Code 351311
• Cook, ANZSCO Code 351411
• Diesel Motor Mechanic, ANZSCO Code 321212
• Motor Mechanic (General), ANZSCO Code 321211
• Fitter (General), ANZSCO Code 323211
• Electrician (General), ANZSCO Code 341111
• Metal Machinist (First Class), ANZSCO Code 323214.

For detailed announcement for this change, please click here to read the VETASSES’s publication in full.

If you have already lodged an application with VETASSESS, you do not need to take any action. VETASSESS will continue to process those applications.  Professional practisners  should seek alternative assessment authorities for these occupations during this period.

Korrylink advises that this pause by VETASSESS does not mean that the Department of Home Affairs will discontinue the visa applications related to these occupations.

If you have any queries, you are most welcome to consult with Korrylink.

On 21 August 2022, the Western Australia State Government announced the new settings of State Nomination for General Skills Migration (subclass 190 and subclass 491) with a total of 8,140 skilled visa places for the 2022-2023 financial year. This is nearly double of the place for the current 4,950 places.

This move will make WA the most attractive State for skilled migratants. New measures to increase skilled migration to WA including:

– waiving the $200 application fee;
– halving the requirement to have an employment contract from 12 months to six months;
– reducing requirements for applicants to demonstrate sufficient funds;
– removing additional English requirements for professional and manager occupations, and;
– reducing work experience requirements for the 2022-23 program year to attract more skilled workers to WA.

Details announcement by the WA State Minister for Education and Training can be found here. Applicants how are interested in applying for State nomination under the subclass 190 or subclass 491, may go to visit the WA State government website at here.

Korrylink will make efforts to help our clients to achieve their objectives with various visa options.

With the introduction and lobby of Korrylink Migration, Curtin University in Western Australia signed an articulation agreement with China’s Shaotou University in Guangdong Province to recruit students of business and computer science  as from 2022.

According to this simplified articulation agreement or Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) agreement, students from Shantou University, upon completion of 2-year Study of Abroad programs in business and in Computer Science & Technology, will be articulated into Curtin University with 200 credits exemptions (equivalent to 1 year or 8 units). Students will have to meet the Curtin University English entry requirement of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.   It is expected that Curtin’ English Bridging course will be introduced to Shantou University also once the Study Abroad program starts running in September 2022 at Shantou University.

Shantou University is looking at recruiting about 200 students in their first cohort of campaign for their international program.

We look forward to welcoming students from Shantou University in the near future.

For more information about this program, please visit here.

After almost two years, Australia will reopen its international borders and welcome back fully vaccinated tourists from February 21. Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement on Monday (7 February 2022) just hours after the government’s national security committee was briefed on the latest health advice. While the international borders have been opened since late 2021, entry has only been allowed for citizens, permanent residents and their families, with it later expanded to international students, backpackers and migrant workers.

From 21 February, people including visitors who have received two vaccination jabs will be allowed to enter Australia. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said unvaccinated travellers would still need to apply for a travel exemption to come to Australia and have to undergo hotel quarantine if they were granted permission to enter the country.

Prime Minister’s news conference announcement can be viewed here.

The initially-planned reopening of Western Australia’s border to the rest of the world on February 5 will be delayed indefinitely, WA Premier Mark McGowan has announced on the 20th January.

Mr McGowan called a press conference on Thursday (20th) night to announce the delay, which he said was due to the escalating health risks posed by the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

The Premier said the state disaster council met on Wednesday and he received advice from the chief health officer on Thursday morning about delaying the reopening.

He said a new date would be considered during the next month.

Some travel conditions were still set to change on February 5, including expanding the list of people exempt from the hard border, with a focus on those travelling into WA for compassionate reasons.

But those people will still be required to undertake quarantine for 14 days.