WWICS Blog

Accountants in Demand in Australia
Posted on : 23 August, 2011

Australia is facing a crunch in the number of accountants as per Skills Australia and the occupation is likely to continue in the occupations in demand in Australia.

The latest figures reveal that despite the recent huge increase in the number of accountants obtaining skilled immigration visas to Australia, there is still unfulfilled demand for accountants in Australia. The number of accountants who received skilled migration visas to Australia during the 2010-11 fiscal year, more than doubled, to 14,680.

Robin Shreeve, Skills Australia CEO said, "We are keeping a watch on accountants, but at the moment the data and the advice that were getting from the professional associations, is Accountants should still be on the Skilled Occupation List."

“Australia underwent some changes in the immigration rules in July, 2011 and new Schedule 1 & 2 of the Occupation List replaced Schedule 3 &4. However, accountants continue to be on the Schedule 1 of the occupation list. Thus, all the accountants aspiring to immigrate to Australia should make the most of this opportunity and apply at the earliest”, said Col. BS Sandhu (Retd.), CMD, WWICS Group.

Effective July 1, 2011, new points system were rolled out for the below mentioned Skilled Migration Visas. The Qualifying Score is now 65 points for Skilled Subclasses:

a.)Skilled Independent Category Subclass 175
b) Skilled Sponsored Subclass 176
c) Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa Subclass 475
Also, effective July 1, 2011, only newly introduced Skilled Occupation Lists Schedule 1 & 2 would be applicable.