employment

DEMONSTRATED RECENT SKILLED EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENT

To meet the recent skilled employment requirement (no points awarded), you must demonstrate that you have been employed:
* in an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
* for at least 20 hours a week
* in a paid position
* for at least 12 of the 24 months immediately before lodging your visa application.

Note: If you are nominating a specified trade occupation, your recent work experience must be in your nominated occupation. Other work experience in an occupation listed on the SOL will not be considered.
EVIDENCE OF RECENT SKILLED EMPLOYMENT

To demonstrate that you have been employed in a skilled occupation for the required period you will need to attach to your application certified copies of your work references for any positions held during the relevant period.

Your skilled employment references must:
* be written on the official letterhead of the company or government department providing the reference
* clearly indicate the full address of the company and any telephone, fax numbers, email and website addresses in the letterhead
* include the name and position of the person authorised to sign the employment reference typed or stamped below that person's signature
* include the direct contact number of the person writing the reference
* indicate the exact period of employment, including whether permanent or temporary, full or part-time, position(s) held, the main five (5) duties undertaken, and the salary earned - positions should not be described by generic titles (e.g. research officer, public servant) but according to the nature of the duties undertaken (e.g. research chemist, accounts clerk)
* include a payslip from your current employment - this is especially important for applicants working in government departments.

For some applicants (such as self-employed or contract workers), other documents which may assist you in evidencing your work experience claims could include, but are not limited to:
* contracts
* payslips
* tax returns
* group certificates.
For the purpose of awarding points, the department considers skilled employment in the nominated occupation or a closely related occupation will comprise at least 20 hours employment per week. In determining whether your skilled employment is closely related to your nominated occupation, the department will take into consideration the occupations within one unit group classified under Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

Generally, you will be able to request an opinion about your skilled employment claims from the relevant assessing authority when seeking your skills assessment. For further information about this process, applicants should contact the relevant assessing authority. Contact information can be found on the department's website at <http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/a-z.htm>
The decision to award points for skilled employment remains with of the departmental case officer.
POINTS FOR UNDERTAKING A PROFESSIONAL YEAR

Under the points test, applicants who have undertaken an approved ?professional year' on completion of their studies will be eligible for award of five (5) points under the General Skilled Migration points test.

Applicants wishing to claim award of these points must have completed their professional year in their nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation, for a period totalling, at least 12 months in the 48 months immediately before lodging their General Skilled Migration application.

SKILLED EMPLOYMENT IN AN OCCUPATION OTHER THAN THE NOMINATED OCCUPATION: