For a Software Engineer Emigrating to Australia

Welcome to our guide on the Australian skills assessment process for a Software Engineer. Before we examine the skills required to be recognised as a Software Engineer it may be helpful to explain that the skills assessment is the first step of the emigration process. The skills Assessment of a Software Engineer determines their eligibility to emigrate and the visa options available. Ultimately, it will affect their employment opportunities once they are in Australia.

While we appreciate that each case is unique, we always strive to secure the best possible outcome from the Skills Assessing Authorities in Australia. Experience has proven that efforts and expertise in this area are often the keys to a successful case.

Ensuring Software Engineers Are In High Demand

Every skilled migrant wants to know they will be able to secure a job quickly and easily when they are in Australia. The Australian emigration system ensures that they can.

Each year, State Governments and the two territorial Governments report to the federal government on their local demand for Software Engineers and if they need to bring in Software Engineers from overseas to fill any potential shortage skills gaps. This report states the number of overseas a Software Engineers required in the coming year to fill the skills gap within each region.

The Skills in demand are then broken down into priority lists. These lists range from those skills in high demand across the country to those skills with only limited demand within rural areas.

Curently, Software Engineers are on the MLTSSL list. Being on this list means a Software Engineer may qualify for one of the following visa streams:

• See note

To read more about the shortage skills list, you can visit the government website here: MLTSSL

Skills and Experience Required To Be a Software Engineer

Before a person can be accepted in Australia as Software Engineer, their qualification, skills and experience must be independently verified via a rigorous accreditation. The process ensures all skilled migrants can do their jobs to the required Australian standards.

1. Defining the job title a Software Engineer:

The profession “a Software Engineer” can mean something slightly different in Australia to what is referred to overseas. In “official emigration terms”, this profession is aligned within the occupation category “Software Engineer” and is uniquely identified by the code 261313. This may seem weird to some people, but it is a registry system that has been in place since 2006.

2. Key Requirements for a Software Engineer:

For a Software Engineer to be deemed experienced down under, here are the essential skills, tasks, duties and responsibilities they must be familiar with:

General Duties:

Communication and collaboration
• Quality control and inspections
• Production processes and machinery
• Performance evaluation and efficiency improvement
• Data
• analytics
• and databases
• Records
• documentation
• reports and research
• Business operations and financial activities
• Operating procedures and processes
• Security and emergency services
• Digital technologies and electronics
• Teaching and education

Core Specialist Responsibilities:

Teach others to use computer technology
• Develop procedures for communications and data management
• Prepare reports or evaluations
• Operate and maintain computers
• Install and maintain computer equipment or software
• Create and update databases
• Collaborate and advise on educational and technical issues
• Communicate and collaborate
• Establish organisational policies or programs
• Enforce or maintain security
• Develop operational strategies
• plans or procedures
• Develop and review technical designs and processes
• Operational specifications design and reporting
• Develop websites or software
• Test computer or software performance
• Monitor equipment
• procedures and systems
• ICT support
• design and management
• Undertake project planning
• Research
• evaluate or design new technologies

Specific Tasks Associated with the Role:

Coordinate project activities with other staff or departments
• Design integrated computer systems
• Communicate project information to others
• Create databases to store electronic data
• Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning
• Develop software applications
• Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies
• Monitor computer system performance to ensure proper operation
• Conduct research to gain information about products or processes
• Install computer hardware
• Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems
• Maintain computer hardware
• Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details
• Develop detailed project plans
• Anticipate the organisational implications of machine learning models
• Install computer software
• Analyse security of systems
• network or data
• Manage information technology projects or system activities
• Provide technical support for software maintenance or use
• Test software performance
• Develop organisational goals or objectives
• Develop performance metrics or standards related to information technology
• Coordinate software or hardware installation
• Review computer information systems
• procedures and networks
• Document technical specifications or requirements
• Identify information technology project resource requirements
• Prepare analytical reports
• Test computer hardware performance
• Configure computer networks
• Train others in computer interface or software use
• Develop guidelines for system implementation
• Design computer modelling or simulation programs
• Develop models of information or communications systems

3. The Australian eligibility criteria for a Software Engineer:

Currently Software Engineer’s are listed on the . This reflects the demand for the profession within Australia.

4. Emigration options:

As the profession is currently listed on the , there are places available. However, demand is high, and Australia will stop inviting further applicants to emigrate once all the places are filled.

Navigating the Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services Skills Assessment Process

For Software Engineers, the skills assessing body is “Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services” they are often referred to as the VETASSESS. To visit their site, follow the link: https://www.vetassess.com.au

It is important to note that the primary purpose of the Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services is to make a profit and protect their current members from migrants entering Australia, taking their members’ jobs, and driving down standards or wages.

Therefore, the VETASSESS will often look to delay, frustrate and reject cases preventing accreditations wherever possible with those aims in mind.

The result of a candidate’s skills assessment is often a key factor in their success. It is vital that we secure the highest possible skills accreditation.

Find out more

Emigration law is one of the most complex areas of legislation and is continuously being adapted. By definition, emigrating to Australia is a legal process where the individual must prove their case. It is not down to the government to assist in that process. In fact, in legal terms, it is the government against whom we must win our case.

To discover more, complete our online assessment form for your complimentary guide and to discuss your options with one of our friendly experts.