SMPO Target Group:

The skilled migrant placement program is designed to assist migrants who:

• have overseas acquired qualifications, skills, or demonstrated work experience in
• a recognised occupation; AND
• are permanent residents of Australia or:

- are residents or dependants of residents on a spouse or interdependency visa (visa sub-classes 309, 310, 820, 826, 445)
- are holders of temporary protection or humanitarian concern visas or have been granted temporary humanitarian stay in Australia for certain other reasons (visa sub-classes 785, 786, 448, 449)
- are holders of, or are a family members of holders of resolution of status visas (visa sub-classes 850, 450)

AND

• are unemployed or underemployed;
• do not qualify for Job Search Training (Flex 2) or Intensive Assistance (Flex 3) from the Job Network.

‘Skilled migrants’ refers to migrants who have overseas acquired post-secondary qualifications or demonstrated work experience in a recognised occupation.

‘Recognised occupations’ are occupations that are included on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) maintained by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs based on the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO).

‘Demonstrated work experience’ refers to evidence of employment in a recognised occupation for a period of at least 12 months. This evidence may be provided through references from employers or a statutory declaration.

‘Disadvantaged in the labour market’ refers to those migrants who are either unemployed or underemployed.

‘Relevant or related area’ means an area in which the person is required to apply skills or knowledge which were central to his/her field of overseas training or vocational experience.