Software engineers and developer programmers are in short supply in Australia, however that doesn’t mean you can’t find the talent you need to meet your clients’ needs. The Australian Government is currently exempting international workers with these skills, among others, from travel restrictions in place due to COVID-19. The exemption is part of the Government’s plan to create Australian jobs and rebuild the economy. Other occupations included in the new priority skills list include maintenance planners and a raft of medical professions. “Our priority is getting Australians back into work but we also need key health workers to help fight the virus and skilled migrants who are going to be job multipliers, to help the economy recover,” said Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge. “These occupations in the health care, construction and IT sectors will supercharge both our health and economic response to COVID-19.” The 17 occupations on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) are: Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111) Construction Project Manager (133111) Mechanical Engineer (233512) General Practitioner (253111) Resident Medical Officer (253112) Psychiatrist (253411) Medical Practitioner nec (253999) Midwife (254111) Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412) Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415) Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418) Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422) Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423) Registered Nurses nec (254499) Developer Programmer (261312) Software Engineer (261313) Maintenance Planner (312911) Existing skilled migration occupation lists will remain active and visas will still be processed, but priority will be given to those in occupations on the PMSOL. And, as you’d expect, any overseas workers who do gain a visa to live and work in Australia will need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in the country. Prepare With Care To justify your application for an international worker, it is necessary to meet strengthened labour market testing requirements. This means that in addition to the current requirements of two national advertisements, employers must advertise their vacancy on the Government’s jobactive website. The Ayers Group can help smooth the way. The Ayers Group is one of few Australian companies to be approved by the Department of Home Affairs (Immigration) to have an on hire labour license. As such, we can help you arrange visas for workers and help them settle into their new life in Australia. We can also assist you with contract management and administration so that you can rest assured your international workers are legally compliant during their stay in Australia. Contact an expert at the Ayers Group today.