How to improve your chances of gaining Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia

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Many international students dream of staying in Australia after they have completed their studies. While most international students are permitted to come to Australia to study, General Skilled Migration (GSM) is a completely different (and more complicated) process. It is run by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and is driven by the labour market needs of Australia.

GSM approval is dependent on your score in the Points Test, which grants points according to your skills and experience. The fact that you have studied in Australia does not guarantee approval for GSM, but there are a few other ways that you can increase your chances and boost your score in the Points Test. This article contains information for those applying for the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189).

Minimum requirements for international students applying for GSM:

  • You need to have met the Australian Study Requirement. This means you must obtain an Australian qualification in Australia (excluding online or distance study) as a result of at least two years of study (this can be made up by studying multiple courses).
  • You need to be aged between 18 and 49.
  • You need to have a minimum IELTS score of 6 (or equivalent in another specified test of English language ability).
  • You need to nominate and hold a skilled assessment for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List. Migration is dependent on Australia’s employment needs, so completing study in an area that leads to a high-demand field of employment listed on DIBP’s Skilled Occupation List (SOL) — such as health, education, trades or built environment — is essential. Applicants who have been nominated by a state or territory government must nominate an occupation from the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL). Review the list to see if your area of study appears and to check the details of approved skill assessors. More information can be found on the Skilled Occupation Lists page of the DIBP website.

Improving your chances of being approved for the GSM program:

  • Stay in Australia after completing your degree: You can gain more time to develop your English language skills and employment experience in Australia after completing your studies by applying for an 18-month Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485). This will give you an opportunity to boost your score in the Points Test.
  • Climb the qualifications ladder: It might be worth building on your skills and knowledge by progressing to a more advanced qualification — moving on from a diploma to complete a bachelor degree, for example. Diplomas and trade qualifications attract 10 points on the Points Test, while bachelor degrees attract 15 and doctorates attract 20.
  • Develop your English language skills: Applicants deemed as having English language abilities that are ‘Proficient’ (IELTS 7 or equivalent) or ‘Superior’ (IELTS 8) attract more points — 10 points and 20 points respectively.
  • Study in a regional area: Those who have completed their Australian Study Requirement of two years in a regional area are eligible for an additional five points. Those who have lived in a specified regional area for at least two years and have worked full time in that area for a total period of 12 months in a specified regional area of Australia are eligible for a different visa type — the Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887).
  • Consider your age: Your age can greatly affect your score in the points test — those aged between 25 and 32 are awarded 30 points, for example, while those aged between 45 and 49 are eligible for none.
  • Gain meaningful employment: The more years of employment experience you have in the occupation you nominate on the SOL, the more points you will be awarded. Consider gaining some meaningful employment in addition to your study or applying for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) to give yourself an opportunity to earn some more employment experience. As little as one year of work experience in Australia can grant you five additional points. Previous employment overseas may also attract points.
  • Complete a Professional Year: A Professional Year Program is a structured professional development program combining formal learning and workplace experience. Those who complete a Professional Year gain valuable Australian workplace experience and are eligible to receive five extra points. Professional Year courses run for 12 months and are currently available in the fields of computer science, accounting and engineering. To be eligible for extra points the course must be undertaken in the applicant’s nominated skilled occupation or a closely related area.

Other useful resources:

Tips to Score above band 7 in IELTS

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IELTS Band 7 is the ultimate goal for most international students. A score of IELTS 7.0 or 7.5 is evidence that your English is good enough to join any university course, even at elite Oxbridge and Ivy League institutions. 

Only a very small number of degree programmes require a score higher than IELTS Band 7 and these tend to be language-intensive courses like literature, linguistics, and law.

This article tells you exactly what you need to do in order to get IELTS Band 7 in each of the four modules of the test. Your module score, or ‘sub-score’, can be either 7.0 or 7.5 depending on whether you meet these minimum requirements, or exceed them slightly.

Your overall IELTS score will also be classified as either 7.0 or 7.5 depending on the average band score among each of the four modules. For example, Listening Band 7 + Reading Band 8 + Writing Band 8 + Speaking Band 7 = IELTS 7.5.

IELTS Listening Band 7

  • Get 30 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.0*
  • Get 32 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.5*
  • Spell answers correctly
  • Not write more than the maximum number of words for each question

Read more about the IELTS Listening module, including how listening scores are calculated.

IELTS Reading Band 7 (Academic Module)

  • Get 30 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.0*
  • Get 33 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.5*
  • Spell answers correctly
  • Not write more than the maximum number of words for each question

Read more about the IELTS Reading academic module, including how reading scores are calculated.

IELTS Writing Band 7 (Academic Module)

  • Answer both questions fully
  • Write in clear paragraphs, each with a main idea and supporting sentences
  • Use higher-level vocabulary with an awareness of collocation
  • Provide an overview with detailed comparisons in Task 1
  • Indicate a clear position and stick to it consistently in Task 2
  • Produce generally error-free sentences

Read more about the IELTS Writing academic module, including how writing scores are calculated.

IELTS Speaking Band 7

  • Speak fluently and at length on any given topic
  • Use a range of linking words accurately to connect ideas
  • Use less common and idiomatic vocabulary
  • Produce generally error-free sentences
  • Show good control of pronunciation and intonation

Read more about the IELTS Speaking module, including how speaking scores are calculated.

*Note that the number of correct answers required to get IELTS 7.0 or 7.5 may vary slightly from test to test.

Scope of Nursing in Australia

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A nursing career in Australia offers the opportunity to join one of the most highly regarded and trusted fraternities of working professionals in the world, and to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of people in Australia and abroad.

The working life of a nurse generally involves:
– working closely with patients and other health professionals, so you need to be comfortable and enjoy interacting with people and working in a team
– providing practical care for people that may be vulnerable or in poor states of health, so you need to have a pragmatic outlook, you shouldn’t be too squeemish about blood and other bodily fluids, and you need to have a ‘can-do’ attitude to solving problems
– you should have an interest in health and providing healthcare to the community.

Pathways to a nursing career
The two most common pathways to qualifying as a nurse and being ready to start your nursing career are as follows:

1) To become a registered nurse, you will typically
a) complete your high school certificate (Pre-requisite year 12 subjects usually include English and one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics), then
b) complete a 3 year full time Bachelor of Nursing Degree.  Entry to undergraduate nursing degree programs can be competetive, and entry may be subject to your achieving sufficiently high academic results in year 12.  Some nursing degree programs also require satisfactory completion of interviews or other pre-selection tests and pre-requisites to entry.  Click here to search for registered nurse approved programs of study in Australia.
c) be registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

2) To become an enrolled nurse, you will typically:
a) complete a diploma of nursing with an accredited course provider, which usually involves 18 months of full time study.  Click here to search for enrolled nurse approved programs of study in Australia.  Entry requirements for diploma of nursing programs vary from institution to institution.  Typical requirements include a) completion of year 12 certificate, or a certificate III in aged care, or 2 years work experience in a closely related field; then
b) be registered as an ‘Enrolled Nurse’ by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

While these are the most common pathways, there are many other pathways that people may take to pursue a nursing career.  We recommend that you contact the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Board to seek advice about your personal circumstances and how you may be able to pursue a career in nursing.

Click here for more information about nursing courses in Australia

What is involved in completing a nursing degree or diploma program?
Nursing courses leading to registration involve a mixture of theoretical and practical learning experiences, generally delivered in the classroom and in hospital settings.  So you can expect to spend a lot of time in healthcare settings gaining practical experience in addition to traditional classroom based learning.

What is the difference between an Enrolled Nurse and a Registered Nurse
Under the provisions of the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia, Enrolled nurses generally work under the authority and direction of a Registered Nurse.  This doesn’t mean that enrolled nurses aren’t an invaluable contributor to patient care, but there are certain tasks that Enrolled Nurses cannot do unless they are under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse.

Medication Endorsed Enrolled Nurses (EENs) are enrolled nurses that have undertaken additional training that then allows them to administer medications.

Types of Nursing Careers
After completing your initial registration as a nurse, you can seek employment directly with hospitals or healthcare services.  Many hospitals offer graduate programs which give nurses the opportunity to experience nursing work across a range of fields and specialisations.  Alternatively, you may choose to start your career with a healthcare provider in a particular sector.

Nursing careers can be highly varied and diverse in the nature of work performed, the types of patients you will care for and the clinical conditions that you may be exposed to.  Some of the key nursing specialty fields include:
– Theatre nursing or more broadly Perioperative Nursing.  (Also visit our Perioperative Practice Hub)
– Emergency nursing (visit our Accident and Emergency practice hub)
– Critical Care nursing (visit our Critical Care practice hub)
– Mental Health nursing (also visit our Mental Health practice hub)
– Aged care nursing (also visit our Aged Care practice hub)
– Oncology nursing (also visit our Oncology practice hub)
– Practice nursing
– Paediatric nursing (visit our paediatrics hub)
– Cardiac nursing (visit our cardiology hub)
– And many more…

The widely adopted career level designations for nurses in Australia are:
– Enrolled nurse (sometimes referred to in Victoria as a Div II nurse)
– Registered nurse
– Clinical Nurse
– Clinical Nurse Specialist
– Nurse Practitioner

If you choose to pursue a nurse management role, the typical career level designations include:
– Assistant Nurse Unit Manager (ANUM)
– Nurse Unit Manager (NUM)
– Associated or Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON)
– Director of Nursing (DON)
– Executive Director of Nursing

Click here to learn more about the challenges of nurse management.

What do nurses earn?
Click here to learn more about current nurse wages and salaries in Australia.

Travel Nursing
Nursing skills are highly transferrable across and Australia and globally.  Very exciting opportunities are available for nurses to travel and work overseas.  Click here to explore currently available travel nursing opportunities.