Educare International Student Services Centre ( 學進澳洲留學移民中心）

02/09/2026

Updated Minimum Pay Rates in Australia
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From 01 July 2026, Australia’s National Minimum Wage has increased to $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week based on a 38-hour full-time working week. Also, from 17 August 2026, eligible on-demand food and grocery delivery workers are also covered by new minimum standards, including minimum pay rates starting at $31.30 per hour of engaged time.

As an international student, you have the same workplace rights and protections as other workers in Australia.
If you believe you are not receiving the correct pay or work entitlements, or if you experience workplace issues, you can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for free information and advice.

Working in Australia, workplace laws help make sure you are paid fairly. Minimum pay rates are reviewed each year and may vary depending on the type of work you do. In addition, most jobs are covered by an award where awards set minimum pay rates and working conditions for different industries and occupations. You can use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool to check the rates and conditions that apply to your role.

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02/09/2026

Tasmanian State nomination: Updates on Invitations
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1) The latest round of invitations for Tasmanian skilled migration nominations was issued on 20 August 2026, with 20 invitations for subclass 190 (17 Gold, 3 Green) and 25 for subclass 491(1 Gold, 24 further invitations).

2) Due to the high volume of Gold Pass ROIs received for subclass 190, only a limited number of additional invitations were issued this round, with just three non-Gold ROIs invited due to oversubscription over the past two weeks.

3) Lowest score required for nomination (rolling 3-month average):
• Subclass 190: 562 points
• Subclass 491: 94 points

4) NOTE: Nominations are approved where all claimed priority attributes are verified. Applications may be declined if attributes cannot be verified and the score falls below the required threshold, or if attributes are found to have been claimed to artificially inflate a score. Gold pass holders who do not meet the relevant Gold priority attribute will be declined, regardless of total score.

5) Current processing summary:

(Source: Migration Tasmania)

19/08/2026

建築技工在澳洲的需求
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澳洲現在對建築、電力、基礎設施相關行業的需求越來越需求。再加上未來大型基建、住房建設，以及 2032 年布里斯班奧運會帶來的長期規劃，建築類技術工人的位置，正在變得越來越重要。

如果你是瓷磚工、木工、櫥櫃工、瓦工、水管工、電工、石匠、油漆工、屋頂工、泥水匠這類技術人才，你們便要留意一下技術移民的路向。

對很多建築技工來説，可以選擇計分制技術移民或僱主擔保，尤其是 482簽證的途徑。
相較於一些需要職業評估、材料複雜、過程和所需時間較長的技術移民路徑，部分建築技工在 482 簽證中，有機會在特定情況下豁免職業評估，當然是否需要職業評估仍需以移民局要求、職業類別和個案情況為準。


一般來説，建築技工如果想通過 482簽證來澳工作，通常需要符合和注意以下重點：

1) 英文要求相對沒有計分制技術移民那麼高。很多情況下，雅思 5 分或同等英語成績就有機會滿足基本要求。

2) 需要有相關崗位/ 技術工作經驗。通常至少需要 1 年或以上相關全職工作經驗，當然具體還要看職業、申請類別和個案情況。

3) 職業要在澳洲相關擔保職業清單範圍內。

4) 必須獲得符合資格的澳洲僱主提名。

5) 以下這些建築及相關技工，都是常見的澳洲需求職業：

- 空調和機械服務水管工（Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber）

- 空調和製冷技工（Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic）

- 瓦工（Bricklayer）

- 線纜工，數據通信方向（Cabler - Data and Telecommunications）

- 下水道工（Drainer）

- 纖維泥水匠（Fibrous Plasterer）

- 地板工（Floor Finisher）

- 煤氣工（Gasfitter）

- 玻璃工（Glazier）

- 園藝師（Landscape Gardener）

- 油漆工（Painter）

- 普通管道工（Plumber - General）

- 屋頂水暖工（Roof Plumber）

- 屋頂鋪瓦工（Roof Tiler）

- 固體泥水匠（Renderer / Solid Plasterer）

- 石匠（Stonemason）

- 牆壁和地面瓷磚工（Wall and Floor Tiler）

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19/08/2026

Updates on Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program
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1) The Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will open to new ROIs on 17 August 2026.

a) There are some changes to priority attributes for selection will apply.
b) Tasmania has now received a total 2,050 nomination allocations for the 2026-27 program year.

• 1,250 nomination places for subclass 190
• 800 nomination places for subclass 491.

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2) Program Changes and New Features

Some updates made to the priority attributes, selection policy and program guidance. These changes are designed to better match the nomination priorities, make it easier for applicants to choose the right attributes, and reduce program risks.

Key changes have been made as follows:

• Clearer, easier to understand priority attribute wording.
• Revised scoring of priority attributes to better recognise longer contribution to Tasmania.
• Greater differentiation in points available according to duration of employment.
• Updated policy guidance for leave periods and breaks between jobs.
• The TSE Gold priority attribute updated to require at least 30 hours per week in at least one job to qualify.
• Income attributes updated to Australian median and average earnings and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (the Priority Income Level of $57,000/year or $28.85/hour has not been changed).
• Additional caveats on recognizing employment matching skills assessments or study for massage therapist and motor mechanics / service technicians.
• The service fee to apply for nomination has increased to $387 ($425.70 including GST). There remains no charge to submit a Registration of Interest.

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3) Candidates who have submitted an ROI in the last six months may wish to withdraw it and submit a new one, as the changes to priority attribute ranking criteria may significantly improve chances of selection for many people

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4) Subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation (Invitation Only Pathway) - No invitations planned for 2026-27

This pathway allows overseas individuals to be nominated by Tasmania where they do not have a job in Tasmania but have skills and experience that would make them readily employable in key areas of need.

As the Australian Government has announced that it will be prioritizing visa processing for applicants in Australia, Migration Tasmania will not issuing invitations in this pathway this program year.

Overseas health and teaching professionals who gain employment with a Tasmanian health provider or school will still be eligible for nomination for a subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa in the Overseas Applicant - Health or Education Sector Job Offer) Pathway.
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(Source: Migration Tasmania)

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29/06/2026

Skill Select Invitation Round results
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The most recent invitation round for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) was held and released on 4 June 2026, and a total of 10,000 invitations were issued for the subclass 189 visa. The results were briefly summarized by Occupations invited by points score as shown on the attached tables.

The next invitation round for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is expected to be held by 30 September 2026.

21/05/2026

Update on Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program
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Registrations of Interest (ROI) for all TAS pathways and passes of the Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will close at 5pm , 3rd June 2026.

Below information is provided by Migration Tasmania:

1) The last invitation round for the 2025-26 program year will take place on 4 June 2026.

2) Migration Tasmania will resume accepting ROIs from all eligible candidates when the 2026-27 program commences.

3) Migration Tasmania will continue to assess applications for nomination, so new applications will be able to be lodged. However, with few nomination places remaining, the chance of being invited is low.

4) ROIs that are not invited to apply for nomination before the end of this migration program will continue to be held in the Application Gateway for six months and considered for an invitation to apply for nomination when the 2026-27 migration program commences.

(Source: Migration Tasmania)

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15/05/2026

Federal Budget 2026-2027
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The Federal Budget 2026-2027 was hand downed on Tuesday 12 May 2026, introducing some key updates to the Australia's migration system.

In the perspective of Australian migration, the Government’s main plan is to revamp the permanent skilled migration point-test program to target better education, higher skilled, and younger migrants to address skills shortages.

With the information we have so far, below are the key announcements:

1) Australia’s permanent Migration Program remains at 185,000 places with the 70% skilled / 30% family split, with a strong continued focus on onshore applicants. Around 70% of places (129,590) will be allocated to people already living in Australia, while offshore places will prioritise highly skilled migrants to meet long term workforce needs. From the new budget, an advantage is given to onshore skilled applicants. Out of the total places, 129,590 are reserved for applicants already living and working in Australia. If you are currently on a temporary visa such as a 482, 485, or 408 visa, your pathway to Permanent Residency has never looked more promising.

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2) For offshore skilled applicants, there are 55,110 places remain, and these spots are strictly earmarked for high-skilled migrants in sectors facing chronic, long-term shortages, such as healthcare, secondary education, and specialised infrastructure engineering.

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3) It also indicates a shift towards prioritizing onshore visa applicants and reforms that target highly skilled and qualified migrants in the medium to long term. It reinforces that skilled migration and applicants already in Australia will be a key focus, especially for occupations and industries with long-term demand, that is implied from the streamlined recognition of overseas qualifications for trades workers.

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4) Net Overseas Migration: The budget forecasts net overseas migration of 295,000 in 2025-26 and 245,000 in 2026-27, falling to 225,000 by 2027-28 and remaining around that level through to 2029-30. Net overseas migration has declined by around 45% from its peak in 2022-23. The Budget notes that net overseas migration is moderately higher than previously expected in 2025-26 and 2026-27 because migrants on temporary visas are departing Australia at lower rates than in the past, and that arrivals of New Zealand citizens remain strong.

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5) Points Test Reform: The Government has also flagged upcoming changes to the points test that is used as a tool for subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas. The points test is used to score and rank skilled visa participants on factors such as age, English ability, work experience, and qualifications to determine who receives an invitation to apply for a Skilled Independent Visa.

Key reforms in the New Points Test:

• Age: Expect higher points for applicants in the 21–29 age bracket.
• Education over Experience: While work experience remains vital, the new system places a higher premium on Australian qualifications and higher education levels (Masters and PhDs).
• High-Demand Productivity Skills: Not all jobs are equal under the new reform. Skills that drive "sovereign capability" and "green energy transitions" are expected to receive weighted points.
• English Language Proficiency: "Competent" English is no longer enough to be competitive. The new system heavily rewards "Superior" English speakers, viewing language as the primary driver of successful economic integration.

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6) Other measures mentioned in the budget include:

• Reform of the Working Holiday Maker program, including greater use of ballots to manage demand. To better control numbers, reduce barriers to work, provide a fairer allocation of WHM visas, and support Australia’s national interests.
• Funding to address misuse of the protection visa system, including early legal advice to reduce unmeritorious claims
• Focus on visa integrity: $167.4 million in funding over four years will be committed to “strengthen the integrity of the migration system.” This includes $19.8 million over four years for “enhanced scrutiny of onshore and offshore student visa applications, ensuring the integrity of the international student visa system.”
• Assessing the requirements for establishing a Skills Migration Commissioner.
• Improving the efficiency of recognising VET qualifications.
• Ongoing support for migrant workers, victims of trafficking, and future reforms to the Adult Migrant English Program
• The Australian Border Force will receive supplementary funding of $270 million in 2026–27 to assist in combatting the influences of antisemitism, violent extremism and hate in Australian communities, and additional training to immigration and visa officers in relation to antisemitism and hate related behaviour. Increased resources for border enforcement, national security and character testing, including new visa refusal and cancellation powers linked to extremism and hate related conduct

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(Source: Federal Budget 2026-2027)

15/05/2026

Federal Budget 2026
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It is important to learn about annual Federal Budget if you are living in Australia. This year’s Federal Budget has been handed down on Tuesday 12 May 2026, and below are the key focus:

1) From 1 July 2026, the tax rate for income between $18,201 and $45,000 drops from 16% to 15%, then to 14% from 1 July 2027. That means less tax coming out of your pay as your income grows.

2) From 2027-28, the new Working Australians Tax Offset kicks in, which will automatically reduce the tax paid by eligible workers when they lodge their tax return. The $250 offset directly reduces the amount of tax you owe, rather than reducing your taxable income, meaning eligible workers can pay up to $250 less tax for the year.

3) Then there’s the new $1,000 instant tax deduction, available from 2026-27. Instead of tracking every small work-related expense, many people will be able to claim a flat $1,000 deduction without keeping receipts. It’s designed to make tax time less fiddly and more predictable.

4) Government modelling suggests an average full time worker could be up to $2,816 a year better off by 2027-28 once all scheduled tax changes apply. If you use family trust, there’s also a change worth being aware of. From 1 July 2028, income flowing through discretionary (family) trusts will generally be taxed at a minimum rate of 30%, reducing the benefit of spreading income across family members. The Budget also allows a three year transition period from 1 July 2027 to help eligible trusts restructure.

5) Fuel excise on petrol and diesel was temporarily cut from 52.6 cents to 20.6 cents per litre for three months from April 2026. However, the discounts will end at the start of July, with no new fuel relief announced.

6) Healthcare support includes cheaper Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines and additional funding for public hospitals.

7) Negative gearing will be limited to new builds from July 2027, changing incentives for landlords and property investors.

8) The Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount will change from July 2027, which may increase tax on future gains for some investors.

9) From 1 July 2026, the $20,000 instant asset write off will become permanent, making it easier to immediately deduct the cost of business essentials like tools, equipment or vehicles.

NOTE: You shall refer to the official details at https://budget.gov.au/

(Source: Federal Budget 2026-2027)

Australian Federal Budget, 2026-27

07/05/2026

Updates on NSW state nominations
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1) Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

NSW has invited sufficient Expressions of Interests (EOIs) to fill the nomination allocation for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) for the current program year. There will be no further invitations issued for visa subclass 190 until a new allocation is provided by the Australian Government at the start of the 2026-27 program year.

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2) Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) - Pathway 2

An invitation round for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) Pathway 2 was conducted last week, and NSW will continue to invite EOIs for the visa subclass until the nomination allocation is reached.

06/05/2026

A brief wrap-up of the up-to-date state nominations
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Approaching to the end of Migration program year, it is important to learn about nomination activity in each state if you are pursuing to apply for a state nomination.
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Below is the summary of nomination activity in each state:

1) New South Wales

a) NSW conducted a subclass 190 invitation round on 4 March 2026 targeting specific occupations with points ranging from 70 to 110:

• Architect
• Architectural Draftsperson
• Carpenter
• Civil Engineer
• Community Worker
• Developer Programmer

b) NSW's priority sectors remain construction, renewable energy, health, digital/cyber, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing.

c) NSW's 491 visa pathway is partially closed where Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 have been closed since 19 January 2026 after their allocation was reached. Pathway 2 may reopen in April depending on demand.

d) NSW places allocation: 2,100 for subclass 190 visa and 1,500 for 491 visa

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2) Victoria

a) Victoria’s 2025-26 state nominated skilled visa program was closed to new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) on 28th April 2026.
VIC government will continue to consider all submitted ROIs for the remaining nomination places in the 2025-26 program year. If you withdraw your ROI, you will not be able to submit a new one until the 2026-27 program opens.

b) VIC places allocation: 2,700 for subclass 190 and 700 for 491 visa

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3) Western Australia

a) The most recent rounds were conducted on 03 and 05th March 2026 where 53% allocation has been used.
b) On the round of 3rd March 2026: Priority trade occupations + occupations in a sector-targeted construction industry were invited
c) On the round of 5th March 2026: Priority non-trade occupations for both 491 and 190 visas
d) Key occupation clusters included healthcare and nursing, engineering and built environment, hospitality and skilled trades, and education and professional services.
e) WA has used approximately 53% of its 2025-26 allocation, with roughly 1,600 places remaining across both visa subclasses. At the current pace, WA could fill its allocation before 30 June 2026. If WA is on your list, submit your EOI now.
f) WA place allocation: 2,000 for subclass 190 and 1,400 for 491 visa

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4) Queensland

a) QLD invited applicants for onshore occupations under both 491 and 190 on the round of 12th March 2026, with points ranging from 65 to 100.
b) Queensland's onshore construction worker pathway continues to expand where 190 visa requires at least 9 months onshore experience (min. 20 hours per week) and 491 visa requires at least 6 months onshore experience (min. 20 hours per week).
c) Casual and self-employed work now counts toward the experience requirement, that is a significant change that broadens eligibility for tradespersons already working in Queensland.
d) QLD is actively recruiting for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics preparation, which means the sustained demand for construction occupations will continue.
e) QLD place allocation: 1,850 for subclass 190 and 750 for 491 visa

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5) Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

a) The last round was held on 12th March 2026, and the final round will run in the week of 4 May 2026.
b) Income thresholds for subclasses 190/491 ACT nominations was increased from 1 February 2026.
c) ACT continues to prioritise 491 visa invitations over 190 visa.
d) After the last round, ACT’s total allocation remaining is 639 nomination places where 190 Nominations is 326 and 491 Nominations is 313.
f) ACT place allocation: 800 for subclass 190 and 800 for 491 visa

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6) Tasmania

a) There is still strong interest in the State Visa Nomination program, and the number of invitations to nominate TAS has now issued to candidates will use most of this year’s allocation.
b) There are some remaining places and TAS will continue to process applications and receive ROIs however the number of new invitations to apply for nomination will be limited over the coming weeks while TAS focus on processing the applications currently on hand.
c) Subclass 190: TAS is temporarily pausing invitations for any ROIs that do not attract a Gold pass. ROIs can continue to be submitted and TAS will review the situation in the coming weeks.
d) ROIs with a Green pass will continue to be invited to apply for nomination within six months of submission however, if approved, TAS may not be able to nominate them this program year if all places are filled.
e) Subclass 491: Invitations will continue for all pass colours although the number issued will be reduced.

f) On the round of 11th March 2026, Tasmania issued 33 invitations where 14 for the 190 visa ("Gold pass" profiles only) and 19 for the 491 visa. The lowest invited score for 491 visa was 40 points (an "Orange pass" profile). That makes Tasmania the most accessible state for lower-scoring applicants in the current cycle.
g) TAS place allocation: 1200 for subclass 190 and 650 for 491 visa

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7) Northern Territory

a) The NT Government has now received sufficient applications to fully utilise its GSM nomination allocation for the 2025-26 program year. As a result, the NT nomination portal is now closed to new applications. Applications lodged before the closure will continue to be assessed.
b) The nomination portal will reopen once the Australian Government confirms the NT’s nomination allocations for the 2026-27 program year.

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8) South Australia

a) The most recent round was conducted on 01st May 2026
b) SA continues to invite candidates across the four streams of the 2025-26 General Skilled Migration program
c) SA will conduct an invitation round in mid to late May 2026.
d) The table set below provides the relevant data for the invitations issued on 1st May 2026: