As part of an Australian Government incentive, migrant engineers can now apply for fast-tracked skills assessments for free towards securing employment in the field in Australia.
Engineers Australia will provide these assessments to migrants with skills or qualifications in fields like civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and petroleum engineering.
“This program represents quite a dramatic difference to the time an assessment would typically take,” said Robin Liu, Engineers Australia Senior Manager Assessments.
“A normal assessment might take 16 to 18 weeks. A previously paid, fast-tracked assessment might take 20 working days. This free offer, running from February 28, 2022, to June 30, 2023, provides an outcome within 15 working days.”
To be eligible, applicants must be residing in Australia on a permanent family, partner, refugee, or humanitarian visa and have not yet had a formal skills assessment from Engineers Australia or any other assessing authority.
“Applicants who already have a permanent visa can work without limit in Australia,” explained Mr. Liu, himself a migrant engineer.
“Our assessment process is to confirm that they are a suitable qualified engineer whose qualifications are recognised as equivalent to an Australian engineering degree.”
The initiative follows reports of skills shortages in the country despite a 2021 study finding 47 per cent of skilled migrant engineers already in Australia were unemployed.
Said Dr. Bronwyn Evans AM, Engineers Australia CEO: “Migrant engineers report their international experience is simply not valued in Australia. Many lose faith in the job-seeking process and fall away from the profession as a result.”
The free skills assessments hope to address this vital issue and provide pathways into the profession.
To know more about the free skills assessments, visit the DESE Migrant Skills Incentives website or Engineers Australia’s migrant assessment information portal.
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