The latest SkillSelect invitation round brought some encouraging changes for skilled visa applicants, with minimum invitation scores dropping across a number of occupations. Most invited applicants received invitations with 65 or 70 points, although some occupations continued to require significantly higher scores.
The results also highlight an important distinction between occupations receiving invitations and those with eligible Expressions of Interest (EOIs) sitting in the system without being selected.
Minimum scores drop for several occupations
A number of occupations that previously required 80 points dropped to the minimum 65-point threshold in October.
These included:
- Automotive Electrician
- Cabinetmaker
- Economist
- Environmental Consultant
- Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
- Electrical Engineering Technician
- Panelbeater
- Sheetmetal Trades Worker
- Shipwright
- Tennis Coach
- Valuer
- Welfare Centre Manager
Other occupations, including Arts Administrator or Manager, Boat Builder and Repairer, Dancer or Choreographer, Educational Psychologist, Musician (Instrumental) and several environmental science occupations, also received invitations at 65 points.
This may provide opportunities for applicants on lower overall scores.
Occupations receiving higher invitation scores
While minimum scores fell for many occupations, several others experienced increases compared with previous invitation rounds.
| Occupation | Previous score | October score |
|---|---|---|
| Child Care Centre Manager | 80 | 85 |
| Clinical Psychologist | 75 | 90 |
| Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec | 80 | 85 |
| Specialist Physicians nec | 80 | 85 |
| Psychologists nec | 75 | 80 |
| Secondary School Teacher | 75 | 80 |
| Special Needs Teacher | 75 | 80 |
| Surgeon (General) | 85 | 90 |
| University Lecturer | 85 | 90 |
| Zoologist | 85 | 95 |
The increases demonstrate that invitation scores can fluctuate considerably between rounds. Applicants should avoid assuming that a previous minimum score will remain the same in future invitations.
New occupations invited in October
The October round also included invitations for several occupations that had not featured in the previous invitation results.
These included:
- Horse Trainer – 65 points
- Locksmith – 65 points
- Technical Cable Jointer – 70 points
- Neurosurgeon – 80 points
- Fitter-Welder – 80 points
- Radiocommunications Technician – 85 points
The only IT occupation invited in this round was ICT Security Specialist, which required 100 points.
Several popular occupations remain without invitations
Despite having EOIs lodged in SkillSelect, a number of popular occupations did not receive invitations in the October round.
Last invited in November 2024, these include:
- Accountant and Management Accountant
- External Auditor, Internal Auditor and Taxation Accountant
- Analyst Programmer and Developer Programmer
- ICT Business Analyst and Systems Analyst
- Computer Network and Systems Engineer
- Software Engineer and Software and Applications Programmers nec
- Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer and Structural Engineer
- Engineering Technologist
- Chef
Applicants working in these fields may need to consider alternative migration options, including State and Territory nomination through the subclass 190 or 491 visas, or employer-sponsored pathways where eligible.
What do the October SkillSelect results mean for applicants?
The October results show that invitation scores have become more accessible for some occupations, with many receiving invitations at 65 or 70 points. However, this does not mean all skilled applicants have an equal opportunity of receiving an invitation.
Some occupations continue to attract high minimum scores, while others have not received invitations for several rounds.
If your occupation has not been invited recently, it would be worth looking beyond the subclass 189 visa and exploring state nomination, regional migration or employer sponsorship.
The right migration strategy depends on your occupation, points score, qualifications, work experience and individual circumstances.
If you are unsure which pathway may be suitable, contact Australian Visa and Immigration Experts (AVIE) to discuss your options with a registered migration agent.
