With thousands of vacancies in many Australian towns, employers are now looking at off-shore talent to fill vital positions in especially the mining industry.

Western Australia’s City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder estimates there are 1600 job vacancies specifically in the area’s gold mining industry.  To ensure the continued survival of these mines employers are now scouting for mining engineers, specialist tradesmen, project managers and many other specialists offshore. These positions are not being filled by local talent and left unfilled will have a devastating effect on the area’s growing economy and job market – which is benefiting Australians too.  Keeping the industry alive means more people and with that comes more schools and hospitals – better infrastructure and a bigger variety of services and options for both migrants and locals.

“There are numerous examples where regions are saying they’re facing skilled labour shortages; we’ve heard from regions like Orana in central northern NSW, the Goldfields in WA and others around the country that are calling for more immigration,” said Australia’s Home Affairs Minister David Coleman at a recent press conference about skills shortages in Australia.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder chief execu­tive John Walker said to The Australian that the mining region 600km east of Perth was ready and waiting for more people, and ideally suited to house and employ thousands more residents. “We have so many jobs available today, and we don’t want or like FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) workforces,” he said.

The council wants to increase the city’s population of 30,000 to 40,000 within a few years.

Which Occupations Qualify?

If your occupation is listed on Australia Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) you may qualify to work in Australia for up to four years – provided that your meet all the immigration requirements.

The basic requirements are that your occupation must be listed on the MLTSSL and that you score a minimum of at least 65 points on the points test.

Some of the qualifying occupations in the mining industry are:

• Architects
• All Engineers
• Environmental Health Officers
• Geologists
• Occupational Health and Safety Advisor
• Project Managers
• Quantity Surveyors
• Urban and Regional planners
• All ICT Professionals

*** Your occupation might not be listed above but could still qualify you for an Australian work visa.  Speak to your immigration consultant to find out.

How do I get the points?

1. Age is considered one of the highest-scoring factors. Visa applicants aged between 25 and 32 are attributed 30 points
2. People with more than eight years of work experience are awarded 15 points
3. An applicant with a PhD will get 20 points
4. Proof of superior English abilities will earn the applicant 20 points
5. Nomination by a state or territory government will score an additional 5 points
6. Points may be earned for any credits a partner, who joins the main applicant on the same application, may contribute
7. A degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement will earn 5 points
8. A Masters’ degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least two academic years in a relevant field will also contribute 5 points.

Other requirements:

1. For a Skilled Independent visa, the applicant's profession must be listed as an eligible skilled occupation
2. The applicant must satisfy health requirements
3. Proof of enough funds to support the applicant for a few months is required
4. The applicant must meet regular character requirements
5. A skills assessment is necessary to prove you have the skills and qualifications to work in that occupation.

Source:  The Australian, australia.gov.au, homeaffairs.gov.au and New World Immigration