I’ve been living in Australia for more than a year now. And in that period of time, I have observed the shortage in skilled workers here. This includes the deficit in specially trained individuals in the healthcare industry. But, the big question now is, how do you get here?
There are different types of visas out there that can get you into Australia. But since we are on the topic of skilled individuals like physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists, we will focus only on the most common way of migrating here. This is via the General Skilled Migration Programme of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of the Australian government.
General Skilled Migration Programme
This route is recommended for people who are not sponsored by an employer, and who have skills in particular occupations required in Australia.
Applicants must meet the ff. requirements:
- over 18 and under 45 years of age
- with good English language ability
- recent skilled work experience or a recently completed eligible Australian qualification
- have skills and qualifications for an occupation listed on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
Visa Options If You Are Outside Australia
A. Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175) – a permanent visa for people with skills in demand in the Australian labour market but are not sponsored & must pass a points test.
B. Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176) – A permanent visa for people unable to meet the Skilled – Independent pass mark. Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or nominated by a participating State or Territory government. Applicants must pass a points test lower than that for the Skilled – Independent visa.
Skills Assessment Authorities
Before you can migrate to Australia as a skilled migrant you must have your skills assessed by the relevant national assessment authority.
Physiotherapists: Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC)
The Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC) assesses overseas-trained physiotherapists who wish to be registered to practise in Australia and is also responsible for the oversight of the Australian Standards for Physiotherapy.
If you have not completed an accredited entry-level physiotherapy degree at a university in Australia or New Zealand, or do not have a current practising certificate in Australia or New Zealand then you must undertake the APC assessment and examination process before being eligible to apply to register with one of the Australian state or territory Physiotherapists Registration Boards. You may find that other requirements for registration apply in some Australian states/territories. For further information please contact the authority below.
Australian Physiotherapy Council
PO Box 587
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
Telephone: 61 2 6262 6029
Fax: 61 2 6262 5284
Email: enquiries@physiocouncil.com.au
Website: http://www.physiocouncil.com.au
Read their information handbook for more details.
Please note that APC is an assessing authority and is not responsible for registering physiotherapists. This is the function of the Physiotherapy Registration Board in each State/Territory. For more information contact the relevant State/Territory Board.
Occupational Therapists: Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Board (COTRB)
COTRB undertakes assessments of overseas qualified occupational therapists for skilled migration to Australia.
To be eligible for recognition by COTRB you must have an appropriate degree which is approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) and is equivalent to an Australian Bachelor degree, be officially recognised and of good standing as an occupational therapist in the country in which you were educated or practiced and, meet English language requirements as determined by COTRB. If you are found suitable for practice/migration in Australia following successful completion of the Stage I – Desk Top Audit you will generally need to undergo a practice audit of six months duration (Stage II).
Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Board (Australia and New Zealand) Incorporated
PO Box 229
TORRENSVILLE SA 5031
AUSTRALIA
Telephone: 61 8 8443 9375
Fax: 61 8 8443 9550
Email: cotrb@saboards.com.au
Website: http://www.cotrb.saboards.com.au/
Read their information leaflet for more details.
Registration is a legal requirement to work as an occupational therapist in some Australian states and territories (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia).
Speech Pathologists: Speech Pathology Association of Australia (SPAA)
Speech Pathology Australia is the professional body that represents speech pathologists in Australia. The Association is recognised as the national scientific and professional standards organisation for speech pathologists in Australia. Speech Pathology Australia is also the assessing authority for speech pathologists intending to apply for skilled migration to Australia. Most employers in Australia require prospective employees to be eligible for Practising membership of Speech Pathology Australia.
Speech pathologists who trained outside of Australia can have their qualifications and competence assessed by the Overseas Qualifications Assessment Team of Speech Pathology Australia to determine eligibility for Practising membership.
A comprehensive knowledge of English is essential to the practice of speech pathology in Australia.
It is a requirement that speech pathologists in Australia are able to work with English both as the form of communication and as the focus of assessment and treatment. Therefore, if your first language is not English or if your speech pathology education was not conducted in English, you will need to provide evidence that you can use English competently in Australian speech pathology practice.
To help provide this evidence you may choose to undertake the Occupational English Test (OET). You must achieve a high grading in this test (usually applicants will need to achieve grades of at least three A’s and one B). In addition, if you agree, the examination tapes and reports can be reviewed by Speech Pathology Australia to confirm that you use English effectively for professional purposes in Australia.
Assessment by Speech Pathology Australia that you can competently use English in clinical practice is accepted as evidence of competent English use for purposes of skilled migration.
Applicants must also demonstrate their competence in the area of dysphagia. For more information contact:
Speech Pathology Australia
2nd floor, 11-19 Bank Place
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
AUSTRALIA
Telephone: 61 3 9642 4899
Fax: 61 3 9642 4922
Email: office@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au
Website: http://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au
Read this for more information.
In addition to assessment by Speech Pathology Australia, speech pathologists wishing to work in the Australian State of Queensland must apply separately to the Speech Pathologists Board for registration. This is a legal requirement under The Speech Pathologists Registration Act 2001 (Queensland Government). Registration is not required in other States at present.
The Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland recognises Speech Pathology Australia as the assessing authority for speech pathology qualifications, and will refer you to Speech Pathology Australia for assessment of your overseas qualifications prior to consideration of registration.
If you are intending to migrate to Australia as a speech pathologist, you should be aware that only speech pathologists who can show that they hold or are eligible for current, Practising membership of Speech Pathology Australia will meet the skills level for migration purposes.
If you have specific questions about migration, you can discuss this with other members in the know at our forum.
NB - All information has been collated by the author from the following sources:
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship website
- Australian Physiotherapy Council
- Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Boards (Aust & NZ) Inc.
- Speech Pathology Australia
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