The Subclass 189 EOI data was updated at the end of June. As a Subclass 189 invitation round was held on 4 June, and there is still some time before the Department’s stated 30 September deadline for issuing invitations, this update mainly combines the EOI pool backlog and application data from the end of May and June to estimate the invitation volumes for the main occupations and the acceptance rate for the June round.
Understanding the Subclass 189 EOI Data: Methodology and Assumptions
Before looking at the data, please note:
EOI data only records figures as at the end of each month, so it does not include EOIs that entered the pool between the end of May and 4 June, or after the invitations were issued on 4 June. Many occupations also have very small backlogs, so their data has not changed much. In addition, every figure of <20 in the source data has been treated as the midpoint of 10, creating a slight margin of error.
The figures below are therefore estimates only
intended mainly to show the broad pattern
Subclass 189 Invitations by Key Occupation: Nursing and Carpentry Lead
Nursing received the most invitations, with an estimated 2,279 invitees. A total of 10,000 invitations were issued in the previous round, so nursing accounted for nearly one-quarter, and the actual number should have been higher. Around 300 nursing EOIs at 75 points or above are added each month. The backlog reached 5,959 at the end of May and still stood at 3,680 at the end of June after invitations were issued. Although the backlog is large, substantial numbers secure invitations in every round, so nursing remains stable for now.
Carpentry had the second-highest invitation volume, estimated at more than 700, with candidates invited at 65 points. Its backlog plunged from 948 at the end of May to 242 at the end of June, clearing 74% of the backlog in a single round. The advantage for skilled construction trades remains clear.
Secondary school teaching in ANZSCO group 2414 and social work in group 2725 followed closely, each with more than 400 invitations. The high-scoring ranges were cleared, and roughly half of the EOIs at 75 points were cleared from the pool.
Most of the other familiar occupations received fewer than 100 invitations in this round.
Across the broader health professions, the backlog at the invitation score for this round was generally around 100. Fields such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, medical imaging, podiatry and speech therapy have relatively accessible entry thresholds within health and may be worth considering for those looking to choose a course that could support a skilled-migration pathway.
Subclass 189 Invitation Acceptance and Visa Grant Outlook
Next, the acceptance rate for the June round.
Around one month after invitations were issued, about 50% of invitees had already lodged their applications. By the end of July, this proportion should settle at 55%–65%, broadly in line with previous rounds. With the allocation increasing in the new financial year, it is likely that all candidates invited in this round will receive their visa grants within this financial year.
Subclass 189 Early Childhood Teaching Backlog Warning: The Hardest of the ‘Big Three’
Early childhood teaching was one of the ‘big three’ occupations not invited in this round.
At the end of June, the backlog at 85 points and above was still increasing by around 200 per month.
Backlog at 85 points and above: 2,129+
Backlog at 80 points and above: 4,064+
Backlog at 75 points and above: 6,377+
Even nursing, which receives large invitation volumes in every round, had fewer than 6,000 EOIs at 75 points or above at the end of May. Early childhood teaching now has the largest backlog among the ‘big three’ and has seen disappointing invitation numbers. We again encourage high-scoring early childhood teaching candidates to explore state nomination options and speak with employers about employer sponsorship, as the current Subclass 189 backlog is indeed concerning.
Finally, with the new financial year here, we hope there will be another large Subclass 189 round in September and that more candidates will be able to secure a place!
