SSASSL Changes - 1 November 2006

The postcodes which are subject to the SSASSL (Sydney and Selected Areas Skills Shortages List) were changed effective the 1st of November 2006.

Areas within the Illawarra are now subject to the SSASSL, along with wider areas within Newcastle and Gosford.

It was disappointing to note that the list of occupations on the SSASSL was not broadened - there seems little logic to the occupations which are on the SSASSL. Some occupations on the NSW STNI List and the Migration Occupations in Demand List are not on the SSASSL.

Note that only offshore Skilled Australian Sponsored (Subclass 138) applicants who are sponsored by a relative living in an SSASSL area are subject to the SSASSL. In this case, both the nominated occupation and any work experience counted towards eligibility toward the 138 visa must be in an SSASSL occupation. Applicants for onshore NZ citizen and international student varieties of the Skilled Australian Sponsored visa are not affected by the SSASSL.

For further information, feel free to contact us.