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There’s good news for Australian vets and vet nurses seeking to work in the UK, and vice-versa, with the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA). 

For UK passport holders who apply for Australia’s Working Holiday visa, the new arrangements will see an increase in the eligible age range and removal of specified work requirements.

• Since 1 July 2023, UK passport holders have been able to apply for a Working Holiday visa between the ages of 18 and 35 years. This is a five year increase from the current maximum age of 30 years inclusive. 
• From 1 July 2024, UK passport holders will be eligible to be granted Working Holiday visas up to a total of three years without having to meet any specified work requirements. (such as work in a rural or regional area )
• There is currently an exemption to the six-month work limitation per employer  – From 1 January 2024, you can work for the same employer in Australia for more than 6 months without asking permission if you work in different locations for the same employer, as long as work in any one location does not exceed 6 months. In addition, if you submit a request for permission to work longer than 6 months for the same employer, Home Affairs may give you permission if you 
  • have applied for a visa allowing ongoing full time work and are awaiting the outcome of your application, or
  • undertake work that is critical to your employer, and have attached a supporting letter from your employer to your request.

Similarly, for Australian passport holders who apply for the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS), the new arrangements will also see an increase in the eligible age range and the ability to stay in the UK for up to three years.

• From 31 January 2024 Australian passport holders will now:
  • be able to apply for a YMS visa between the ages of 18 and 35 years. This is a five year increase from the current maximum age of 30 years inclusive; and
  • extend their YMS visa for a third year if they choose. This also applies to New Zealand passport holders.

Author:

Wendy Nathan
Kookaburra Veterinary Employment

This information includes the views and opinions of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment and is of a general nature only. Factual information is believed to be correct at the time of writing, however, should not be relied upon and any person should confirm details with the relevant authorities and through their own research prior to acting on any of the suggestions in this article.

In a reaction to the enforced quarantine of the pandemic in not just our own countries, but also often our towns and cities, travelling is now firmly back on the “to do” list of more people than ever.

Animal Welfare Charities that depend on volunteers suffered severely during the pandemic, so in 2024, maybe you’re thinking it’s time for you to organise that adventure of a lifetime?

Vets, Vet Nurses and Vet Techs are in the enviable position of being able to take their skills to multiple overseas countries, experience local life and culture, educate and teach, expand their own skill set, and make a real difference to animal and human welfare.

Current Opportunities

• Cambodia: Siam Reap Veterinary Care Details
• Indonesian Borneo: Kawasan Wisata Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup (KWPLH) Details – Nurses | Details – Vets
• Fiji: SPCA Fiji Islands Details
• Fiji: Vet Projects International Details
• Cook Islands: Te Are Manu Details
• Thailand: Koh Mak Animal Clinic Details
• Thailand: Santisook Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation Details
• Thailand: Isara Elephant Foundation Details
• St Vincent & The Grenadines: Mayreau Animal Welfare Details – Nurses | Details – Vets

Kookaburra lists volunteer vacancies free of charge on our website, so if you have an association with a charity organisation overseas and are seeking Vets, VNs, Vet Techs or students, please contact us at jobs@kookaburravets.com .

Author:

Wendy Nathan
Kookaburra Veterinary Employment

This information includes the views and opinions of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment and is of a general nature only. Factual information is believed to be correct at the time of writing, however, should not be relied upon and any person should confirm details with the relevant authorities and through their own research prior to acting on any of the suggestions in this article.

Information below has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs website www.homeaffairs.gov.au in September 2023.

Skilled Occupation List

The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) was temporary and existed while Australia recovered from the COVID pandemic.

It has now been replaced by the Skilled Occupation List. This combined list comprises occupations on

• the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL),
• the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL),
• the Regional Occupation List (ROL)
• or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) ROL List

The following visas, which may be of interest to vets and vet nurses, are available to individuals qualified to work in the eligible skilled occupations. Please see www.homeaffairs.gov.au for details of additional visas.

• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)​
  • See extra information below
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
  • Regional areas – all areas of Australia except for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
  • Length of stay – up to 5 years
  • Under 45 years of age (some exemptions exist)
  • 3 years’ experience
• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)​
  • This is a permanent visa
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)
  • This is a permanent visa, for workers transitioning from a 457 or 482 visa & continuing to work for their sponsoring employer

Employers – Standard Business Sponsor

Before an employer is able to nominate a vet to sponsor in the TSS 482 or Regional 494 visa categories, they must be, or have applied to become a standard business sponsor. Once approved, this status lasts for 5 years.  ( Further eligibility requirements exist in order to be an Accredited sponsor, including NOT being a sole trader or partnership ). As of 6th September 2023 this is the direct link for information on the procedure:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/becoming-a-sponsor/standard-business-sponsor#Overview

Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)

The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) replaced the old 457 visa in March 2018.

TSS visa holders can work in Australia in their nominated occupation for their approved sponsor under one of three streams:

Short-term stream

• Length of stay – up to 2 years
• Vet Nurses are currently on the Short term Skilled Occupation list (STSOL)
• Requirements for eligibility include English language requirements, skills assessments (by VETASSESS for VNs), nomination by an employer, health and character requirements.
• Must have worked in the nominated occupation, or a related field, for at least two years
• There is no age requirement
• The current link for skills assessment for migration for Vet Nurses is https://www.vetassess.com.au/skills-assessment-for-migration/professional-occupations/application-process

Medium-term stream

• Length of stay – up to 4 years
• Vets are currently on the Medium term Skilled Occupation list (MLTSSL)
• Requirements for eligibility include English language requirements, skills assessments (by AVBC for Vets), nomination by an employer, health and character requirements.
• Must have worked in the nominated occupation, or a related field, for at least two years
• There is no age requirement
• The current link for skills assessment for migration is https://avbc.asn.au/for-veterinarians/skills-assessment-for-migration/ You can only apply for a skills assessment once you hold full registration with an Australian Veterinary Registration Board.

Labour Agreement stream

• This stream is available if your employer wishes to sponsor you (as an overseas worker) and has entered into a labour agreement with the Department

Application for the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) involves a three-step process:

Step 1: a sponsorship application by the employer

Step 2: a nomination application for a skilled position by the employer

Step 3: a visa application by the proposed employee

Labour Market Testing requirement –  Subclass 482 (TSS) and Subclass 494 (Regional)

For a nomination to be approved, the Department must be satisfied that a suitable qualified and experienced Australian worker is not available to fill the nominated position.

For most nominations, advertising must be done within the 4 months immediately before lodging a nomination application. Advertising must meet all of the below (further requirements may apply – please see www.homeaffairs.gov.au for up to date information – the direct link is currently https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/nominating-a-position/labour-market-testing  as of September 2023):

• the nominated position has been advertised in Australia
• the advertisement was in English and included the following information:
  • the title, or a description, of the position
  • the name of the approved sponsor or the name of the recruitment agency being used by the sponsor and
  • the annual earnings for the position ( unless the annual earnings will be greater than $96,400 ) It is acceptable to publish a salary range.
• at least two advertisements were published:
  • on a national recruitment website. Note: a general classifieds website is not an acceptable method
  • in national print media
  • on national radio or
  • if the sponsor is accredited – on the business’ website.
  • advertisements, including on websites, are expected to have run for at least 4 weeks

Kookaburra Veterinary Employment can supply a statement on request with information regarding your job advert, the period that it was listed, and the total cost of advertising.

Additional Requirements for nominations lodged on or after 1 October 2020

In September 2020, the Australian Government introduced new labour market testing measures for employer sponsored applications. 

In addition to the 2 advertisements mentioned above:

• the nominated position must be advertised on the Government’s jobactive website ( https://jobactive.gov.au/ )
• the jobactive advertisement must have included all of the information required to be included in the other 2 advertisements mentioned above
• jobactive advertisements are expected to have run for at least 4 weeks
• applications or expressions of interest for the advertised position must have been accepted for at least 4 weeks

Note: advertising may have been undertaken by a third party if authorised to do so by the sponsor (for example, an associated entity or a contracted party, such as a recruitment agency) – there is no requirement that the sponsor placed the advertisement themselves

Evidence of a total of 3 advertisements, including an advertisement published on the Government’s jobactive website, must be provided at the time the nomination is lodged.

Meeting TSMIT requirements

Both the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the nominated occupation and the guaranteed annual earnings that will be paid to the nominated overseas worker, excluding any non-monetary benefits (for example, accommodation or car provided to them as part of their salary package), must not be less than the TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold).

TSMIT is currently set as AUD$70,000 for applications lodged on and after 1 July 2023, as specified in the relevant legislative instrument. For applications lodged before 1 July 2023, it was AUD$53,900.

The requirements and process for visa application can be very complicated and there are more conditions than are listed in this article – you can find more information at www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Migration Agents

If you are considering engaging a migration agent, you should ensure they are registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). This registration demonstrates they have sufficient expertise and are a fit and proper person to provide immigration assistance. The OMARA registrar can be found at portal.mara.gov.au/search-the-register-of-migration-agents/. It is recommended that you look up a migration agent to ensure they are on the registrar before engaging their services.

Author:

Wendy Nathan
Kookaburra Veterinary Employment

This information includes the views and opinions of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment and is of a general nature only. Factual information is believed to be correct at the time of writing, however, should not be relied upon and any person should confirm details with the relevant authorities and through their own research prior to acting on any of the suggestions in this article.

Superannuation is money put aside and saved while you’re working, to provide an income later in life when you retire.

From 1 July 2023, the super guarantee rate rose from 10.5% to 11%. Employees who think superannuation hasn’t been paid can make a complaint to the ATO.

The Superannuation Guarantee

In Australia, Employers must pay Super (the Super Guarantee) for

• employees 18 years
• employees under 18 years working more than 30 hours a week.
• some contractors paid primarily for labour, even if they have an ABN

The Super Guarantee is currently 11.0% of ordinary time earnings – this includes some bonuses, allowances, some paid leave, but not generally not overtime. It will increase by 0.5% each year up to 12% . Employers are obliged to contribute this minimum percentage, but can contribute more. Full time, part time, and casual employees are all included.

Removal of the $450 threshold has now come into force, so Super must be paid for employees as above irrespective of their weekly wage.

SuperStream

Contributions must be made on at least a quarterly basis, by the quarterly due dates. Employers must pay and report super electronically in a standard format and meet SuperStream requirements, and pay into a complying super fund.

If not paid on time, the super guarantee charge may be payable. An employee’s super contribution is counted as being paid on the date the fund receives it, not the date a clearing house receives it. This means that if a quarterly payment is due on 28^th October for example, payment may need to be made up to 10 days prior.

Contractors

Many Vets work as contractors, have an ABN (Australian Business Number) and invoice clinics for their work. However, for Superannuation purposes, they may still be considered an employee and entitled to the Super Guarantee from their employer if they are paid wholly or principally for their labour and skills, perform the work personally, and are paid for hours worked, rather than to achieve a result. To work out whether super applies, see Employee or contractor | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)

Temporary Residents

Temporary Residents ARE entitled to the Super Guarantee. This includes Working Holiday Makers.
When Temporary Residents leave Australia, they may be entitled to claim the super paid for them back, as a DASP – Departing Australia superannuation payment. For more information visit Departing Australia superannuation payment DASP | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)

Additional Contributions

You can add your own money into your super savings, and low or middle income earners may be eligible for government co-contributions.
Employees can initiate a salary sacrifice arrangement with their employer (pre-tax), or make their own personal contributions. There is a cap on Concessional contributions (which includes Super Guarantee payments from your employer), currently $27,500.

Tax on Super

Concessional Contributions – 15%

These are super contributions made before tax, and include super guarantee from an employer, salary sacrifice, personal contributions claimed as an income tax deduction. The cap on concessional contributions has been $27,500 since 1st July 2021 – more than this attracts extra tax

Non-Concessional Contributions – not subject to tax

These are super contributions made after-tax eg. spouse contributions or personal contributions not claimed as an income tax deduction. There is a cap on these too.

Keeping Track of Super using MyGov

Employees can nominate which Super fund they wish to have their contributions paid into and provide that information to the employer. They can now do this online in myGov, or find a standard form here Superannuation standard choice form | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au) . A myGov account https://my.gov.au  is a central portal to which you can link Medicare, Centrelink, Child Support, ATO (Australian Taxation Office), My Health Record & other government agencies. You need a fair amount of information in order to link these agencies all in to your account, so make sure you have all your paperwork handy. Once done, you can see what Superannuation Fund accounts you have and keep track of them through the ATO link in MyGov.

Stapled Super Funds

A stapled super fund is an existing super account linked, or ‘stapled’, to an individual employee so that it follows them as they change jobs. Employers should offer employees a choice of super fund, however, for employees who don’t choose a super fund (this may include contractors), or who may not be eligible to choose a super fund (for example, temporary residents), the employer should request the stapled super fund details for an employee from the ATO using ATO Online services. This has been a requirement since 1st November 2021. For more information visit the ATO website.

More Information

For more information about all aspects of super for employers and employees, including how to find lost super, visit https://www.ato.gov.au/Super/

Author:
Wendy Nathan
Kookaburra Veterinary Employment

This information includes the views and opinions of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment and is of a general nature only. Factual information is believed to be correct at the time of writing, however, should not be relied upon and any person should confirm details with the relevant authorities and through their own research prior to acting on any of the suggestions in this article.