Skilled Migration

Townsville Enterprise Limited is an official Regional Certifying Body (RCB) under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) and the Temporary Business (Long Stay) Subclass 457 Visa for the Northern region. This includes the city of Townsville, Charters Towers Regional Council, and the shires of Burdekin, and Hinchinbrook.

These schemes are designed to help employers in regional or low growth areas of Australia fill skilled vacancies that they have been unable to fill through the local labour market by sponsoring skilled employees from overseas.

Any employer in the region can participate in the scheme, provided that the position meets the following criteria:

It is a genuine, full time vacancy.

It is available for:

Two consecutive years (RSMS); or
Three months to four years (457 Visa).

and:

It cannot be filled through the local labour market.
It requires qualifications to at least Australian diploma level (exemptions may be given).
It will be supported by an employment contract or letter of appointment.

Minimum salary levels apply (exemptions may be given) and the position must also meet any award salary level.

Although minimum skill and salary levels do exist for both schemes, employers can apply for an exemption from these requirements. Exemptions are considered on a case by case basis.

For more information regarding any of these criteria please contact the Economic Development Project Coordinator, Sally Foreman Ph: +61 7 4726 2751, E-mail: sally@tel.com.au or visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website www.immi.gov.au

Process for Certification by Townsville Enterprise

The following information is sent to Townsville Enterprise Limited:

Form 1054 (RSMS) or Form 1196 (457 Visa). These forms are available on the DIAC website.
Position description.
Employment contract or letter of appointment (including the applicable award).
Evidence of attempts to recruit locally (e.g. newspaper ads).
CV/resume of nominee, if known (the position can be certified if the nominee/visa applicant is not known).
Salary rates of similarly qualified Australian employees currently employed or evidence of market salary.

A processing fee of $250 plus GST (non-refundable) is required at this stage. Payment can be made by cheque when submitting documentation or by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Townsville Enterprise Limited then processes and certifies or rejects the application.

The application and a letter of approval or a letter detailing the reasons why the application was rejected will then be returned to the employer. The application, along with any other required documentation is then forwarded to DIAC for consideration.

Please note that certification of a nomination by Townsville Enterprise Limited does not guarantee that it will be approved by DIAC.

Important Information:

Under 457 arrangements an employee can change employers if another employer is willing to sponsor them. Under 457 arrangements the sponsor may be responsible for any costs incurred by the nominee in regards to:

The cost of return travel to the nominee's country of origin.
Medical/hospital expenses arising from treatment administered at a public hospital.
Locating, detaining, and removing a sponsored person from Australia and processing any application for a Protection Visa made by a sponsored person.

Skills Matching Database:

The Skills Matching Database is a practical tool to link migrants with specific skilled vacancies or skill shortages in regional Australia. Applicants on the database are skilled, under 45 years of age and have good English language skills. An abridged version of the database, which does not contain applicants personal details, is available on the DIAC website at www.immi.gov.au/skills/index.htm

For further information on Sponsored Employment visit the DIAC website www.immi.gov.au or phone 1300 364 613 or contact the Economic Development Project Coordinator, Sally Foreman Ph: +61 7 4726 2751,E-mail: sally@tel.com.au