Exciting Changes in Australian Migration for 2024-25: What Nurses Need to Know

If you’ve been dreaming of migrating to Australia to further your nursing career, you couldn’t have picked a better time! The Australian Government has made some big updates to the 2024-25 migration program—and for nurses like you, the news is packed with opportunities. With Australia’s continued focus on healthcare, these changes could make your dream of working Down Under a reality.

Let’s break it all down, so you can understand what’s changing, how it affects you, and why you should be excited about these developments. Plus, we’ll share why getting expert advice is crucial to navigating the migration process successfully!

Australia’s Migration Program is Prioritising Healthcare!

First things first: Australia needs nurses, and they need them now. The 2024-25 migration program has allocated 137,100 places to skilled migrants across different visa categories—and a huge chunk of that is focused on critical sectors like healthcare. This means more opportunities for internationally qualified nurses like you.

Australia’s demand for healthcare workers isn’t just about numbers—it’s about addressing the growing pressures on hospitals, aged care facilities, and community health services across the country. The result? More chances for you to land a visa and start living your Australian dream!

Occupation Lists: Is Your Nursing Speciality In Demand?

If you’re a nurse, this is where things get exciting. Australia has updated its Occupation Lists to reflect the sectors that need skilled workers the most—nursing is right at the top of that list!

The Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), and Regional Occupation List (ROL) have all had new occupations added for 2024-25. This includes aged care nurses, mental health nurses, and other critical nursing roles.

But here’s the catch: you need to be sure your specific role is on the relevant occupation list. For example, nurses specialising in aged care, mental health, or community health will find that their skills are in particularly high demand right now. So, it’s time to check that your role is listed and ready to go!

General Skilled Migration (GSM): What’s Changing?

The General Skilled Migration (GSM) program is one of the most popular routes for nurses who want to migrate independently (aka without employer sponsorship). It includes visa subclasses like the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190).

Here’s what’s new for 2024-25:

Higher Points Thresholds: Australia has raised the points threshold for certain healthcare and tech occupations. This means you’ll need to score higher on the points-based system, which takes into account factors like your age, qualifications, English language proficiency, and work experience.

Bonus Points for Critical Occupations: Here’s the good news—nurses working in critical sectors (yep, that’s you!) can score extra points. This can give you an advantage when it comes to receiving an invitation to apply for your visa.

If your points are looking a little low, don’t stress! It’s worth checking in with a migration expert (hint, hint—like us!) to see if there are ways to boost your score and make your application stand out.

State and Territory Nominations: More Opportunities for Nurses

For those eyeing the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) or the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491), there’s more good news. 49,900 places have been allocated to state and territory nominations, with a strong focus on healthcare.

Each state and territory has its own criteria and list of in-demand occupations. So, if you’re flexible about where you’d like to live and work in Australia, you could increase your chances of getting nominated by targeting areas that are screaming out for nurses.

Places like South Australia, Western Australia, and regional Victoria have big healthcare shortages, which could open up exciting opportunities for nurses looking to get their foot in the door. Imagine starting your new life in a beautiful part of regional Australia where your skills are desperately needed!

Employer-Sponsored Visas: A Focus on Regional Healthcare

If you prefer to have a job lined up before making the move, employer-sponsored visas might be the perfect option for you. For 2024-25, 34,500 places have been set aside for employer-sponsored migration. This includes the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186).

What’s different this year? The focus on regional Australia is stronger than ever. More places have been allocated to regions where the healthcare system is under pressure and desperately needs nurses. Regional healthcare facilities are looking for skilled professionals, and these employer-sponsored visas could be your ticket to a new life in one of Australia’s stunning regional areas.

And don’t worry—if you’re concerned about meeting the requirements for a skilled visa, we can help you assess your options and figure out the best pathway for you!

Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs): Flexibility for Nurses

If you’ve got your heart set on regional Australia but are worried you might not meet the usual visa requirements, Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) could be the perfect solution for you. DAMAs are special agreements between the government and regional areas that offer flexibility on things like English language proficiency, age limits, and even salary thresholds.

The best part? DAMAs offer age concessions, so if you’re over 45 and thought your dream of migrating to Australia was out of reach, think again! There’s still hope for you to make the move.

Some of the regions covered by DAMAs include Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, and Far North Queensland—all regions where nurses are in high demand. These agreements are perfect for healthcare professionals who want to contribute to regional communities while enjoying the lifestyle perks that come with living outside of Australia’s busy cities.

Family and Humanitarian Programs

Though skilled migration is getting the most attention for 2024-25, Family and Humanitarian visas remain an essential part of Australia’s migration program. The Family stream will have 52,500 places, and partner visas are at the top of the list. This is great news for nurses looking to bring their partners to Australia once they’ve settled in.

The Humanitarian program continues to support refugees and asylum seekers, with 13,750 places allocated for those fleeing persecution. Australia remains committed to helping those in need while balancing its skilled migration and family programs.

Get Expert Help to Navigate the 2024-25 Migration Changes

With so many updates to Australia’s migration program, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re on top of everything when applying for your visa. Whether you’re considering the GSM program, state nominations, or an employer-sponsored visa, the changes for 2024-25 mean that there are more opportunities—but also more competition!

At SOLVi Migration, we specialise in helping nurses like you navigate Australia’s complex visa process. From understanding your points score to exploring DAMAs and employer sponsorships, we’ve got your back every step of the way.

So, if you’re ready to take the plunge and make your dream of living and working in Australia a reality, reach out to us today. Let’s make 2024-25 the year you kickstart your new life Down Under!