INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – 457 SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORARY MIGRATION)

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – 457 SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORARY MIGRATION) What is the difference between Pathway 1 and Pathway 2?

IMPORTANT: Please ensure you keep a copy of your application form and evidence for your own records prior to submitting.

Pathway 1 – is for Applicants who DO NOT hold a relevant Australian trade qualification.

Victoria University (“VU”) has been approved by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) to conduct formal skills assessment for certain types of visas. If you want to live and work in Australia, you may need to have your existing skills assessed. Skills assessment is a government requirement. 

Pathway 2 – is for Applicants who DO hold a relevant Australian trade qualification OR a Current, Identified Australian Occupational Licence (Electrician, Plumber and Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanic only).

457 Skills Assessment Program (Temporary Migration)

What is the Skills Assessment Process?

A 457 skills assessment is undertaken for the purpose of applying for a temporary skilled migration visa. This is a commonly used program for employers to sponsor overseas workers to work in Australia on a temporary basis. What can VU assess? Nominated Countries: Please read the TRA 457 Skills Assessment Program Applicant Guidelines on www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au to determine if you are eligible for a skills assessment under this program.

STAGE 1: APPLICATION FOR ASSESSMENT

APPLICANT NOTIFIED OF INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

STAGE 2: DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT

STAGE 3: TECHNICAL INTERVIEW AND/OR PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION

Nominated Occupations assessed by VU: Occupation

ANZSCO Code

Automotive Electrician

321111

Cabinetmaker

394111

Carpenter

331212

Carpenter and Joiner

331211

Chef (Commercial Cookery)

351311

Cook (Asian Cookery)

351411

Cook (Commercial Cookery)

351411

Electrician (General)

341111

Electrician (Special Class)

341112

Fitter (General)

323211

Fitter and Turner

323212

Fitter - Welder

323213

Joiner

331213

Metal Fabricator

322311

Metal Fitter and Machinist NEC

323299

Metal Machinist (First Class)

323214

Motor Mechanic (General)

321211

Pastrycook

351112

Pressure Welder

322312

Sheet Metal Trades Worker

322211

Toolmaker

343412

Welder (First Class)

322313

www.vu.edu.au/skilled-migration

CRICOS Provider No. 00124K (Melbourne)

STAGE 4: ASSESSMENT OUTCOME

SUCCESSFUL RECEIVE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME LETTER, AUSTRALIAN QUALIFICATION OR OTSR

UNSUCCESSFUL RECOMMENDATION / GAP TRAINING

REASSESSMENT REFER TO REASSESSMENT POLICY

STAGE 1: Application for Assessment 1.

Self-evaluation – You must complete the “TradeSET” online self-evaluation before applying; www.tradeset.com.au The TradeSET online self-evaluation tool will help you identify if you have the required skills before applying for your skills assessment. Once you have completed the TradeSET selfevaluation you will receive your unique Skills Assessment Identification Number and TradeSET report which is to be printed and submitted with your application. Note: Pathway 2 applicants do not need to complete the TradeSET self-evaluation.

2.

Application Form - Please complete the appropriate Pathway 1 or Pathway 2 form at www.vu.edu.au/skilled-migration and ensure that all sections/questions are completed.

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INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – 457 SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORARY MIGRATION)

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – 457 SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORARY MIGRATION) 3.

Evidence - Prepare and attach your evidence to your application. All evidence documents must be certified. Note: Pathway 2 applicants will need to demonstrate at least three (3) years full-time paid employment in a relevant and directly related trade, including twelve (12) months full-time paid employment in the nominated trade in the three (3) years prior to lodging your application. Evidence of employment undertaken on a part time basis can also be considered and counted toward the employment requirement on a pro rata basis. For further information, please refer to the FAQ in the next sections.

In some cases you may be required to perform a Practical Demonstration which will allow the assessor to view your skills and knowledge via practical tasks. A Practical Demonstration is a mandatory method of assessment for all ‘licensed trades’ and is the common form of assessment for client based offshore bulk assessments. For interstate and international locations of practical assessment centres, please contact us. STAGE 4: Assessment Outcome Successful – If you can demonstrate your skills and experience to the Australian Standards then you will receive an official TRA endorsed Successful Migration Outcome letter which will satisfy the skills assessment requirement for a temporary migration visa application with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). You will also be awarded with the relevant Australian trade qualification (Certificate III or IV)*.

1.

STAGE 2: Documentary Evidence Assessment An assessor will review the information you have provided to verify that all the documentation required is provided. 1.

2.

Insufficient Documentation - If the documentation is insufficient, VU will notify you in writing that you are required to submit further documentation. You will be required to do so within 28 business days. If you fail to provide the requested further documentation within that timeframe, your application will be closed. The application will not progress until it is ‘Decision ready”. Sufficient Documentation - Once the application is ‘Decision Ready” and therefore the documentation provided is correct and sufficient the assessor will match up your skills and knowledge to the Australian standards for your nominated occupation. An assessor will determine if the evidence supplied by the applicant matches the critical skills sets of the relevant nominated occupation and training package qualification. If the documentary evidence assessment shows that there is an 80% match to the critical skills, the applicant will be advised that they can proceed to the next stage of the assessment process.

*Note: Only for non-licensed trades. For all licensed trades you will receive an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR). VU can only issue an OTSR if it is for migration purposes only. This will allow applicants to apply to the relevant state/territory licensing regulator for a provisional licence. This permit to work allows them to work under supervision of qualified tradespersons. 2.

Unsuccessful – VU will provide feedback, advice and a recommendation for reassessment in writing. If you wish to apply for a reassessment resulting from a ‘skills gap’ you will be required to present further documentation/training/research/on-the-job experience etc. Applicants are only eligible for reassessment if applied for within the given timeframe. For full details, the reassessment policy can be found at www.vu.edu.au/skilled-migration. A reassessment may also be an ‘appeal’ of the original skills assessment outcome.

STAGE 3: Technical Interview The Technical Interview stage involves a conversation with an experienced assessor. This will be conducted either face to face at one of our offices or online via secure webcam.

GENERAL FAQ - 457 Skills Assessment Program (Temporary Migration) What are my obligations as an Applicant?

All technical interviews will be conducted in English. An interpreter is not allowed at the Technical Interview. This component provides an opportunity for you and the assessor to have a professional conversation about your required knowledge and skills for your occupation. The interviews will be conducted by Australian assessors; however you will be required to report to a Victoria University partner in your country at a nominated premise who will be responsible for:  

Verifying and confirming your identify using a range of evidence (passport, identity card with photo, etc); and Supervise and record the interview using a range of communication technology.

STAGE 3: Practical Assessment

www.vu.edu.au/skilled-migration

You must:  Accurately and honestly complete the required VU Application Form and any other documentation issued to you by VU during your skills assessment.  Provide valid, authentic, current evidence to VU in a timely manner to enable us to conduct your assessment  Participate in the assessment as advised by VU. Can I appoint a migration agent or representative? You are not required to nominate a migration agent or representative as part of the 457 Skills Assessment Program. However, if you choose to nominate an agent or representative to act on your behalf during the process, you

CRICOS Provider No. 00124K (Melbourne)

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INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – 457 SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORARY MIGRATION)

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – 457 SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORARY MIGRATION) must notify VU, either on your original Application Form or by completing an Agent Authorisation Form. We will not speak to anyone in regards to your skills assessment unless you have provided written consent. A Migration Agent operating in Australia must be registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA). Do I need to be living in my own country to be assessed? No. If you are currently residing in another country check with the VU Skilled Migration Assessment Services team to see if your assessment can take place there. Do I require an English language test score for my skills assessment?

your application in the form of a folder which clearly labels all your evidence enclosed and includes a Table of Contents or Document Register. Please refrain from using staples or permanent tacks. Missing or incomplete documentation will delay your application and will be returned to you. If I send an electronic application, how do I send my passport photos? Please refer to the “Applicant Declaration” of the application form. Affix two (2) standard colour passport sized photos and has them certified in the space provided. The photos need to be certified stating “This is a true photo of [your full name]” and then signed by an authorised signatory. Please follow the below photo guidelines:  

No. It is not a requirement for your skills assessment. However it is a requirement for your visa application. Find out more at the www.immi.gov.au website http://www.border.gov.au/Lega/Lega/Form/Immi-FAQs/aelt

 

How long will the process take?

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The skills assessment may take a maximum of seven (7) weeks to process from the point the application is deemed ‘decision ready’. If the application is not decision ready an opportunity to submit further evidence will be given (28 business days), however this will prolong the process.



Who are the assessors? The assessors are either employees of Victoria University or employed by our partner State Training Providers in other States. Does VU provide additional training? Yes. Other training available for licence preparation include Metals, Electrical, Plumbing, Occupational Health and Safety, English language courses and gap training. All of these courses incur additional fees.

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What types of evidence do I have to submit? You must submit documentary evidence of your identity, skills and experience to VU for assessment. You will be assessed against the standards of the relevant Australian Qualification, the evidence you can provide the greater support for your application. You must submit the following:  

APPLICATION FAQ - 457 Skills Assessment Program (Temporary Migration)

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To apply for a 457 skills assessment, at the application stage you must provide documentation to show:

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you hold a passport from one of the Nominated Countries (Refer to the TRA 457 Skills Assessment Program Applicant Guidelines) AND you are applying for a Nominated Occupation assessed by VU (Refer to Page 1)

How should I submit and present my application? VU prefers electronic applications, providing they are accurately submitted. However, we also accept applications via post and if you do so, VU recommends that you submit

www.vu.edu.au/skilled-migration

CRICOS Provider No. 00124K (Melbourne)

Completed VU Application Form (MANDATORY) Completed TradeSET Evaluation (Pathway 1 onlyMANDATORY)



Am I eligible for the 457 Skills Assessment Program?



35-40mm wide and 45-50mm high Good quality colour on high quality paper with no ink or marks on the image Natural expression, mouth closed. Show head and top of shoulders close up so that the face measures between 32mm and 36mm from the bottom of the chin to the crown Show you looking straight at the camera (not tilted head) No head coverings; facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of your face must be clearly shown No red eye Hair out of face and eyes Prescription glasses only, no tinted lenses Certified and dated (as specified above) Scanned copies must be clear in colour (not blurred) and show both sides

Two (2) recent photographs – passport sized, certified and dated. Attach to application (MANDATORY) Certified passport bio page – must show name, photo and date of birth (MANDATORY) Birth Certificate Evidence of name change/s (if applicable) Evidence of skills and experience (suggested documentary evidence to provide): Detailed CV/Resume (MANDATORY) Certificates of Qualification/s Academic Transcript/s Statement/s of Attainment Content of subject/s studied Licenses and Industry Memberships (MANDATORY for Pathway 2 Licensed Applicants)

02475D (Sydney)

RTO Code: 3113

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INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – 457 SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORARY MIGRATION)

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – 457 SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORARY MIGRATION) -

Current

-

(MANDATORY for Cook, Chef, Pastrycook and Plumber) Employer Statements (MANDATORY) [Minimum of

-

First

Aid

Certificate,

including

CPR

two (2) if with current employer less than 2 years, Minimum of one (1) if with current employer at least 2 years or more] References Photographic/video evidence of you undertaking work tasks including a written summary Position Descriptions Job Tasks Performance Review Reports Tax Records Annual Payment Summaries / Group Certificates / Payslips (MANDATORY for Pathway 2) Certified Statement from your registered / certified accountant (MANDATORY for Self-employed)

Note: Pathway 2 Qualified Applicants must provide a certified copy of a relevant Australian qualification and academic transcripts and provide sufficient evidence to satisfy the eligibility criteria. For Pathway 2 Licensed Applicants with a Current, Identified Australian Occupational Licence the License must be unrestricted. If you have more than one license please provide licenses for all states in which you have worked. Where past training providers and/or employers no longer exist, applicants must submit a personal statement on an appropriately signed and witnessed Statutory Declaration.

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You may also request advice at your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. Overseas translations must be done on the organisation’s letterhead and include an official stamp, the translator’s name, signature and contact telephone (all in block letters) legibly printed below the signature. When submitting foreign language documents, you must provide:  certified copies of all foreign language documents; and  certified copies of all English translations. How do I prepare an Employer Statement? Every Employer Statement you provide University must be unique and include:            

What if my documents are not in English? If any of your documents were originally issued in a language other than English, than you must provide a certified English translation of those documents, compiled by a registered translation service.

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 Applications submitted within Australia – Acceptable translations may be obtained from translators accredited with the national Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Details of these translators can be found in the telephone directory under “Translations” or on NAATI’s website: http://www.naati.com.au/home_page.html Please check the Translator’s accreditation either by calling NAATI on 1300 557 470, or asking to see the Translator’s letter or Certificate of Accreditation Translations done by NAATI accredited translators must include the translator’s name, NAATI identification number and accreditation status. Applications submitted outside Australia – Acceptable translations may be obtained from:  A Ministry of Justice (or equivalent) in the country where the qualification was obtained.  The Australian Education International Section (AEIS) at an Australian Diplomatic Mission.  Private and Commercial Translators.

www.vu.edu.au/skilled-migration

CRICOS Provider No. 00124K (Melbourne)

The Awarding Institution.

to

Victoria

the name of the business the nature of the business (for example, construction company, hotel) a detailed half-page description/overview of business and the services/products provided by the business the address of the business where you worked the start date and end date of your employment the nature of your employment (full-time, part-time) your normal hours of work your job title (occupation) a detailed description of the nature and content of the work you undertook a detailed description of the machines, tools and/or equipment you used the signature, name, position, telephone and email contact details of the person authorised to make the statement the length of time that the person signing the statement has been supervising you must also be clearly indicated. All employment statements must be on company letterhead used by the employer’s business, where possible. If you are unable to provide employer statements on letterhead you must provide us with an explanation of why this is not possible. All employer statements must be certified.

VU requires you to provide the contact telephone number for every person who supplies an Employer Statement in support of your application. VU may contact an employer to validate the information provided in the Employer Statement. What if I am reluctant to approach my current employer for a Statement? If you are reluctant to approach your current employer for a statement of service (“Employer Statement”), you may submit a personal statement on an appropriately signed and witnessed Statutory Declaration. The Statutory Declaration is to detail as a minimum:  the reason/s why they are submitting a Statutory Declaration; and  all the necessary detail about any training and/or employment experience. What if I am self-employed?

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INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – 457 SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORARY MIGRATION)

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – 457 SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORARY MIGRATION) If you have, or are currently self-employed, you must provide evidence of trade, trade-related or occupation specific self-employment. The evidence should include a personal statement on an appropriately signed Statutory Declaration, affidavit, sworn statement or similar legal declaration (with your signature witnessed by a legal authority in your country).

photocopies of certified copies. All certified copies must be in full colour.

Your personal statement must provide the following details: a) the exact commencement and completion dates of each period of self-employment b) the occupation in which you were self-employed c) the nature and content of the work tasks you personally performed d) the number of staff you employed and their occupations, where relevant e) a description of your workshop and the tools and equipment used f) a list of three clients, with contact details, for each year of self-employment you are claiming.

This certification must be made on a copy of the original documentation and include the certifier’s name, title, registration number (where applicable) and their original signature and date. Copies of signatures will not be accepted.

You are also required to provide the following evidence of your self-employment: a certified copy of your business registration certificate valid for each period of self-employment you claim h) a certified statement on letterhead from your accountant or legal representative certifying the name and nature of your business, the exact start and end dates of your self-employment and the capacity in which you were self-employed. i) at least three statements from suppliers (all certified), confirming the purchase of materials and equipment relevant to the work you were performing through your self-employment for a range of different selfemployment training periods you are claiming. j) certified copies of at least quotations/invoices or contracts for clients with details of the work completed, the client details and job location for work undertaken during the period of self-employment claimed. You must ensure that these documents reflect the range of work that you have undertaken in your nominated occupation over the course of the self-employment period claimed. k) certified copies of references from three clients confirming full details of the work you did for them and the dates the work was undertaken. These references must be from different clients to those mentioned in j) above, but these clients must be included in f) above. l) evidence of any trade licensing or registration and the prerequisites to obtain the licence or registration, where relevant m) Any other documentation that provides support for the existence and purpose of the business. This may include information such as certified copies of advertising or promotional material (including internet advertising).

A certified copy is a true copy of an original document that has been seen and certified by an acceptable person and annotated as follows: “I certify that I have sighted the original document and this is a true copy.”

If a document has multiple pages, the first page must include the signature of the certifier, the date and the total number of pages of the document. The certifier must initial and date every page in the document. If you have documents certified in Australia, Victoria University will only accept documents certified by an Australian registered migration agent or people who are listed in Schedule 2 of the Statutory Declarations Regulations 1993, which is available through the Australian Attorney-General’s Department website.

g)

If you have documents certified outside Australia, certified copies are copies authorised, or stamped as being true copies of originals, by a person or agency recognised by the law of the country in which you currently reside or documents certified by an Australian Registered Migration Agent. What is NOT accepted? 

General statements provided by the applicant, employers or training institutions will not be recognised as sufficient evidence of training or employment experience.

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Incomplete application. If an applicant does not answer all the questions on the application form in full or does not provide sufficiently detailed documentation to support the application, it may not be successful.



Absence of signatures and payment.

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Documents which are not officially certified.

All applications must be “decision ready”. A decision ready application is one which is “complete”, and contains all necessary documents which are taken as being the applicant’s best case for skills assessment.

How do I certify my documents? Please do NOT send original documents to VU. All documents in support of your application must be certified copies of original documents. We will not accept

www.vu.edu.au/skilled-migration

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INFORMATION FOR APPLLICANTS – 457 SKIL LLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (TEM MPORARY MIGRA ATION)

INFO ORMATION N FOR APPLICANTS S – 457 SK KILLS ASSE ESSMENT PROGRAM (TEMPORA ARY MIGR RATION)

GLO OSSARY o

o

o

o

o

o

Agent – a pe erson who accts on your be ehalf in regard ds to your skills assessme ent applicatio on. This ma ay s familly include a miigration agentt, employer sponsor, member or any other perso on acting on your y behalf. Decision rea ady - an application that is on the correcct application fo orm, is signed d and dated, has h the correcct fee and represents an appliicant’s mosst comprehensiive and stron ngest case for a successfu ul assessment outcome. Gap Trainin ng – is the term given for f the forma al training thatt an individua al may unde ertake to gaiin competence in units/subje ects for which RPL or Cred dit ugh the Skillls Transfer hass not been granted throu Recognition p process. Migration A Agent – A reg gistered migration agent ca an use their knowledge of Australia a’s migratio on e or assistanc ce to a perso on procedures tto offer advice wishing to ob btain a visa to enter or rema ain in Australia a. They can alsso assist peo ople who are nominating o or sponsoring p prospective vissa applicants. Skills Asse essment – the process of collectin ng evidence an nd making ju udgements on n whether a an individual can perform to the t standard expected e in a an Australian wo orkplace. Visa – A doccument that gives someone e permission tto travel into a specific coun ntry and stay there for a se et period.

You can send yo our completed d Application n in one of f way ys to Victoriaa University: the following



BY EMA AIL 457skills [email protected]



BY REGULAR POST Skilled Migration M Asssessment Services Sunshin ne Campus Victoria University PO Box 14428 MELBOU URNE VIC 8001 Australia a BY COURIER / IN PER RSON M Asssessment Services Skilled Migration Sunshin ne Campus Victoria University 460 Ballarat Road SUNSHINE VIC 30020 Australia a OFFICE HOURS pm Monday to Friday, 9.000am – 5.00p me Eastern Standard Tim RIES ENQUIR

ACR RONYMS ANZ ZSCO – Austrralian and New w Zealand Sta andard Clas ssification of O Occupations

For all enquiries pleaase contact Skilled S nt Services on: o Migration Assessmen 919 7365 +61 3 99

AQT TF – Australia an Quality Traiining Framewo ork DIB BP – Departme ent of Immigra ation and Border Protection

www.vu.edu.au/skilleed-migration

OTS SR – Offshore e Technical Skkills Record RTO O – Registered d Training Org ganisation TRA A – Trades Re ecognition Ausstralia Trad deSET – Trad de Self Evalua ation Tool

www.vvu.edu.au/skilled-m migration

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RTO R Code: 3113

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