Victoria skilled visa nomination program 2021-2022 (190 and 491 visa)

From 07 July 2021, Victoria had opened its skilled migration program for the financial year 2021 – 2022 and started allowing applications for nominations. In this financial year, Victoria was allocated 3,500 places for 190 nomination, and 500 for 491 nominations. We can see from these number that the Victoria government will mainly focus on 190 nominations, and competitiveness remains high in this state.

Along with the new allocation, Victoria has announced some important changes in their skilled migration program in 2021-2022. However, the program will focus on helping the state to respond to Covid19 situation and recover post-pandemic.

There are several changes in their requirement, however, it is generally still limited to those who are working in the target sectors.

The major changes to the 2021-22 program are:

• The removal of the minimum experience and hours worked requirement.
• An increase in the number of target sectors.
• Applicants must have STEMM skills and have a Skill Level 1 or 2 occupation.  Applicants for subclass 491 nomination may also have a Skill Level 3 occupation using their STEMM skills.

If you are not working in the above sectors, your chance of getting an invitation from Victoria is slim.

Common Criteria to be selected by Victoria

To be considered for selection to apply for Victorian skilled visa nomination you must be:

• living in Victoria (subclass 491 applicants must live and work in regional Victoria)
• working in Victoria using STEMM skills (which will be explained later in this article, and
• working in a target sector.

Target Sectors

To be nominated by the Victoria government, you must work in a following target sectors.

Health

The health sector in Victoria consists of professionals providing medical services to Victorians as well as those involved in related education and research and development.

You do not necessarily need to be working in a health occupation (e.g. Nurse) to be considered working in the health sector. For example, a software developer working on software for hospitals is considered to be working in the health sector.

Nursing applicants: please note that we only nominate applicants with specific specialisations, such as:

• Midwife – 254111
• Registered Nurse (Aged Care) – 254412
• Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) – 254415
• Registered Nurse (Mental Health) – 254422
• Registered Nurse (Perioperative) – 254423
• Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) – 254425

Medical research

In addition to medical research conducted in universities and research institutes, Victoria’s medical research includes activities such as drug development, clinical trials, health product manufacturing, medical devices and digital health.

If you are using your STEMM skills to support medical research in Victoria, you are considered to be working in the medical research sector.

Life sciences

Victoria’s life sciences sector is composed of many industries such as the medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Companies involved in food processing, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals may also be considered to form part of the life sciences sector.

If you are using your STEMM skills to support Victoria’s life sciences sector, you are considered to be working in the life sciences sector. For example, a lecturer in biotechnology working in a university is considered to be working in life sciences.

Digital

The digital sector makes use of technology and innovation to drive economic growth, productivity and competitiveness in Victoria.

Currently they are only selecting applicants with cyber security skills to apply for subclass 190 visa nomination.  Applicants without cyber security skills who are seeking subclass 190 visa nomination may still be selected if they are using their digital skills in another target sector. For example, a software engineer working in medical research.

Applicants working in any segment of the digital sector will be considered for selection for subclass 491 visa nomination.

Agri-food

The agri-food sector in Victoria includes highly skilled people working to develop food growth and production as well as the modernisation of Victoria’s agri-food sector. To be considered for selection to apply for nomination, applicants must be using their STEMM skills to innovate within the sector, which could include research and development or advanced manufacturing.

Advanced manufacturing

Victoria’s advanced manufacturing sector includes industries such as defence and aerospace. To be considered to be working in advanced manufacturing, you must be using your STEMM skills to enhance innovation. This could include activities such as research and development, design, supply chain management increasing global competitiveness through the use of technology.

New energy, emissions reduction and circular economy

This sector includes industries such as clean energy, renewables, bioenergy, carbon capture and energy storage. Applicants could be using their STEMM skills to support efforts to reduce waste, cut pollution and protect the environment.

What is STEMM?

Only working in the target sector is not enough for you to get a nomination from the Victoria government, you must also work in a STEMM occupation. To understand whether your occupation is qualified as STEMM, we will explain what STEMM is and what occupations can be considered in STEMM.

The below is a list of 108 occupations that is used by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment as STEMM occupations.

Related:

• State requirements for 190 visa
• State requirements for 491 visa
• Australia Skilled Migration Update As Of 01 July 2021

Related: 

• Victoria Skilled Occupation List
• State requirements for 491 visa
• State requirements for 190 visa
• Victorian business and investor visa nomination program reopens
• NSW Skilled Occupation Lists for 190 and 491 visa