Cover image via Wikicommons / SBS
Do you have plans to migrate to Australia in hopes of starting a new life with a better-paying job?
Well, you'll have a higher chance of doing so if you have the skills and qualifications befitting the country's new list of on-demand occupations.
Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has just released the new **Skilled Occupations List (SOL)** for the year **2016-17**, which will come into effect from 1 July 2016 onwards.
The list applies for Skilled Independent Visa, Skilled Regional Provisional Visa, and Graduate Temporary Visa applications. It is compulsory to nominate an occupation from the SOL if you're applying for an Independent or Family Sponsored Points Tested visa or Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) – Graduate Work Stream.
The DIBP has also released the [Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL)](https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists/CSOL) for Skilled Nominated Visa, Temporary Work Skilled Visa, and Employer Nominated Scheme applications.
Image via Australia Fair Migration Services
Most occupations listed in previous years remain in the list, barring the following exceptions:
**Removed occupations** include mining engineer (excluding petroleum), petroleum engineer, occupational health and safety adviser, environmental health officer, metallurgist, and several positions in dentistry (dental hygienist, dental prosthetist, dental technician, and dental therapist).
Meanwhile, **audiologists, orthotists, and prosthetists** have been **added to the list**.
WHY THIS MATTERS: Those who can contribute to Australia's labour market, regardless of nationality, are more likely to make a successful move to the country as 68% of permanent migration places are allocated for Skilled Migrants
"The equitable aspect about skilled migration is that **it's not nationally biased**. The DIBP do not care where you're from as long as you have the right skills and qualifications to contribute to the Australian labour market," said registered migration agent Youssef Haddad to [SBS](http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/en/article/2016/05/20/want-migrate-australia-these-occupations-are-open-immigration).
"**Skilled migration is the most realistic pathway for skilled professionals to migrate to Australia.** The simple reason being is that out of the 190,000 permanent migration places available, 128,550 places have been allocated for Skilled Migrants. Australia steadily increases our migration intake every year with an emphasis on skilled migration in order to meet current and future skills shortages," Haddad, who is also the principal director at Immigration Law Matters Australia, added.
