State policies are now finalised! Why is Western Australia still the best choice? Which occupations should consider Western Australia? What fields of study should prospective students consider?

State policies are now finalised. Last week, we summarised the current invitation logic and in-demand occupations for each state. Click here to review:ICT/Marketing/Engineering… Which occupations are most needed by each state this year? Are they consistent with state nomination invitations? What are the promising industries and occupations for the next 5/10 years — A must-read for study-to-migration pathway planners!

Based on the current state nomination requirements, Western Australia remains one of the best options worth prioritising.

Western Australia‘s policies in recent years have been consistently stable and favourable. Even with this year’s sharp quota reduction, the application requirements remain relatively low.

The WA Graduate Stream — whether for the 491 or 190 — still has no job offer or work experience requirements.Schedule 2 Stream occupations can apply for the 491 without any work experience.

Additionally, the WA State Government has confirmed for this financial year that quotas will be prioritised for Priority Sectors occupations. The first round of invitations was entirely allocated to construction-related occupations (though construction is not the only priority)! This is great news for applicants from other states who already hold a relevant skills assessment, as well as those currently studying or planning to study a related field. You can secure a state nomination sooner through the Priority Sectors pathway!

How should you plan for each pathway?

The two main streams

Graduate or General

General Stream:

For applicants from other states who already hold a relevant skills assessment, you can take advantage of the Schedule 2 Stream invitation rules. As long as you are in Western Australia before invitations are issued, you can be classified as a “local resident” (no minimum residency requirement), becoming a first-priority candidate for invitations, You can meet the 491 state nomination requirements even without relevant employment. If you have relevant full-time employment, you can apply directly for the 190 state nomination.

Graduate Stream:

For students planning to use The WA Graduate Stream, you can also consider choosing a course aligned with occupations in the Priority Sectors.The WA Graduate Stream only requires two years of full-time local study to apply for the 190/491 pathway, with no work or job offer requirements.The two-year study requirement can be met with any course at Certificate III or above recognised by the WA State Government, including English language courses.

If you are looking to begin your study now, what professional should you consider?

Let’s take a closer look at some of the WA Priority Sectors occupations and their corresponding courses.

Community Worker

ANZSCO 411711

When people think of social work, they often think of Social Worker (ANZSCO 272511). However, the skills assessment requires an IELTS score of 7 in all bands, which deters many students. In fact, there are many other categories within the social work field, such as:Community Worker, whose skills assessment accepts PTE scores.

Edith Cowan University (ECU)

Bachelor of Social Science

Duration: 3 years full-time

Campus: Joondalup

Annual tuition: $37,400 (2023)

Entry requirements: Any undergraduate degree or AQF Certificate IV or above

English requirements: IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0) or equivalent; exemption available with an AQF Diploma or higher

Course advantages: Exemption from the IELTS 4 in all bands 7(or equivalent) requirement for skills assessment

Lead College

Diploma of Community Service

Duration: 2 years full-time

Campus: Cannington

Total tuition: $32,500 (2023)

Entry requirements: 18 years old and completed Year 12 or Australian Certificate IV (entry test may apply)

English requirements: IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0) or equivalent; exemption available with an AQF Diplomaor higher qualification

Course advantages: Western Australia’s only ACWA-accredited VET course with flexible enrolment dates.

Both courses from the above two institutions are accredited by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA), including 400 hours of placement. After completing the qualification and placement, no work experience is required. With an IELTS score of 7.0 in all bands (or equivalent) — exemption available with a relevant bachelor’s degree or higher — , you can apply for the Community Worker ANZSCO 411711 skills assessment.

Quantity Surveyor

ANZSCO 233213

Many students confuse Quantity Surveyor (QS) with Surveyor — the former is a quantity surveyor, while the latter is a land surveyor. The QS skills assessment is conducted by the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS). Curtin University is the only institution in Western Australia that offers AIQS-accredited courses.

Curtin University

Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management)

Duration: 4 years

Campus: Bentley

Annual tuition: $33,957 (2024)

English requirements: IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) or equivalent

If you do not meet the entry requirements, you can start with the Diploma of Built Environment and then enter the second year of the bachelor’s programme.

After graduation, you can apply for the Quantity Surveyor 233213 skills assessment without any work experience.

In addition, Curtin University also offers accredited Surveying courses. Only eight universities across Australia offer this accredited programme, and Curtin is the only one in Western Australia.The fourth year of the Bachelor of Surveying (Honours) includes an honours programme, allowing further study towards a Master of Philosophy (Surveying) and Doctor of Philosophy.

Civil Engineering Draftsperson

ANZSCO 312211

A Civil Engineering Draftsperson prepares detailed drawings and designs for civil engineering projects to support civil engineering professionals and technicians. The qualification requirements for this occupation are lower than those for engineers — completing a two-year Advanced Diploma is sufficient to meet the skills assessment requirements.

National Institute of Technology

Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design

Duration: 2 years

Campus: Perth

Total tuition: $22,400 (2023, onshore students)

Entry requirements: 18 years old and completed Year 12

English requirements: IELTS 5.5 (no band below 5.0) or equivalent

Course advantages: Intake every three months, tuition payable in 8 instalments

Lead College

Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design

Duration: 2 years

Campus: Cannington

Total tuition: $21,000 (2023, onshore students)

Entry requirements: 18 years old and completed Year 12 (entry test may apply)

English requirements: IELTS 5.5 (no band below 5.0) or equivalent

Course advantages: Flexible enrolment dates with intake available nearly every month

After graduation, by preparing a CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) and without any work experience, you can obtain a Civil Engineering Draftsperson skills assessment through Engineers Australia (EA).Additionally, you can also apply for a 485 visa, giving you more time for further planning.

For those in other states, if you already hold a valid skills assessment in one of the followingPriority Sectors categories, consider coming to Western Australia to become a first-priority candidate for invitations.

In addition to construction and healthcare occupations, here are some other commonly invited priority occupations:

Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages 249311

University Lecturer 242111

Restaurant Manager 141111

Hotel Manager 141311

Sales and Marketing Manager 131112

Why / We Recommend Western Australia

For applicants in the above occupations, if you are still waiting for an invitation in another state or struggling to accumulate work experience, consider the WA 491. Come to Western Australia before invitations are issued to become a first-priority candidate — no work or job offer required. A short trip is all it takes to give yourself an extra chance at receiving an invitation.

With limited quotas this financial year and inevitable backlogs for non-critical occupations, if you are planning a study-to-migration pathway, choosing the right location and course from the start is crucial. Prioritise courses that are more favourable for local graduates and aligned with in-demand occupations — this could help you secure a state nomination ahead of others.

Overall, Western Australia is well worth prioritising, both for its policy stability and future employment prospects. To learn more about local courses and start dates in WA, please contact one of our consultants below.

Recommended Reading

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Why Is Western Australia Still the Best Choice This Year? Which Occupations Should Consider WA? What Fields of Study Should Prospective Students Explore?

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