Skilled Migration

Townsville Enterprise Limited is an official Regional Certifying Body (RCB) under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) and the Temporary Business (Long Stay) Subclass 457 Visa for the Northern region. This includes the city of Townsville, Charters Towers Regional Council, and the shires of Burdekin, and Hinchinbrook.

These schemes are designed to help employers in regional or low growth areas of Australia fill skilled vacancies that they have been unable to fill through the local labour market by sponsoring skilled employees from overseas.

Both the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) and the Temporary Business (Long Stay) Subclass 457 Visa have a three stage process that may include certification by an RCB such as Townsville Enterprise. Our role is to ensure:

Temporary Business (Long Stay) Subclass 457 Visa:

• Tasks of the nominated position correspond to the tasks of an occupation in the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) major groups 1 to 7
• The position is genuine, full-time and necessary to the operation of the business
• The position cannot reasonably be filled locally
• The wage or salary will meet, at least, the Minimum Salary Level that applies at the time that the nomination application is made
• The working conditions will be at least equal to those provided for under relevant Australian laws and awards.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS):

• There is a need for a paid employee in the business that is actively and lawfully operating in Regional Australia by the nominating employer.
• The position is a genuine full time position.
• That unless the position is "exceptional" the position nominated requires the appointment of a person who has qualifications equivilent to at least Australian diploma level. (under policy, trade certificates are considered to be the diploma level or higher).
• The position is available for at least two years.
• The employer is aware that a contract or letter of employment between the employer and the nominee will need to be sighted by the department before the nominee's visa can be granted.

For more information regarding the skilled migration schemes please contact the Economic Development Project Coordinator, Sally Foreman Ph: +61 7 4726 2751, E-mail: sally@tel.com.au or visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website www.immi.gov.au 

Process for Certification by Townsville Enterprise  

The following information is sent to Townsville Enterprise Limited:

• Form 1054 (RSMS) or Form 1196 (457 Visa).  These forms are available on the DIAC website.
• Position description.
• Employment contract or letter of appointment (including the applicable award).
• Evidence of attempts to recruit locally (e.g. newspaper ads).
• CV/resume of nominee, if known (the position can be certified if the nominee/visa applicant is not known).
• Salary rates of similarly qualified Australian employees currently employed or evidence of market salary.

A processing fee of $250 plus GST (non-refundable) is required at this stage.  Payment can be made by cheque when submitting documentation or by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Townsville Enterprise Limited then processes and certifies or rejects the application. 

The application and a letter of approval or a letter detailing the reasons why the application was rejected will then be returned to the employer.  The application, along with any other required documentation is then forwarded to DIAC for consideration. 

Please note that certification of a nomination by Townsville Enterprise Limited does not guarantee that it will be approved by DIAC.