Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462)

Support and provide relief to regional employers including in the agricultural sector by incentivising work and holiday in regional areas. Eligible visa holders have access to longer stay in Australia.

Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP)

Provides access to seasonal work in the Australian agriculture sector, and accommodation and tourism sectors in selected locations. This programme is managed by the of Department Jobs and Small Business.

Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS)

Provides access to low and semi-skilled work opportunities in rural and regional Australia for up to three years. This programme is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Designated Area Migration Agreements

Tailored agreements that enable designated regions to respond to their unique workforce shortages by accessing experienced overseas workers for vacant skilled or semi-skilled occupations that cannot be filled by Australian workers from the local labour market.

Labour Agreements

Labour agreement are in place with a number of key agricultural industries in the regions, including the horticulture meat, pork, dairy and fishing industries, which enables access to more flexible visa arrangements, and semi-skilled occupations.

Temporary Skills Shortage (subclass 482)

Enables employers to address short term labour shortages by bringing in genuinely skilled overseas workers where employers cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)

A demand-driven programme that allows employers in regional areas to sponsor foreign skilled workers for permanent residence in Australia. Additional occupations that are not available to employers in major metropolitan centres are available to regional sponsors.

Skilled − Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) − Sponsored

Encourages settlement in regional Australia and some metropolitan areas experiencing labour market shortages. Skilled migrants on a 489 visa are required to live, study or work in a designated area for two years.

Skilled − Nominated visa (subclass 190) − State or territory nominated

A permanent points-tested visa for highly skilled people who are invited to apply for the visa through SkillSelect if nominated by a state or territory government agency.

From 16 November 2019

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) and Skilled
Work Regional (Provisional) visas

Regional migrants will be required to live and work in a regional area for three years before being eligible for permanent residence, meaning migrants will be more likely to stay in a regional area long−term, building ties to that area

Should you have a specific question pertaining to your labour or visa issues, please email AUSVEG National Manager – Public Affairs, Tyson Cattle tyson.cattle@ausveg.com.au