PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS and SKILLS RECOGNITION
SKILLS RECOGNITION
You can find out more about getting your skills and qualifications recognised by going to the Dept of Immigration website at http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/a-z.htm
The website lists most occupations and has links to information about how to have skills in that vocational area recognised, including relevant professional bodies who carry out qualifications assessment and the legislative or registration requirements for employment in that profession.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR QUALIFICATIONS RECOGNITION
Did you know that you may be eligible to apply for some financial assistance in having your overseas qualifications recognised?
The Assessment Subsidy for Overseas Trained Professionals (ASDOT) is a Commonwealth government scheme aimed at assisting financially disadvantaged overseas trained professionals. It provides financial assistance to cover the cost of assessments and/or examinations which must be passed to qualify for employment in certain professions in Australia.
Got to the Australian Government Education International website and look at the information on ASDOT at http://aei.gov.au/AEI/QualificationsRecognition/Information/Asdot.htm
PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Professional organisations are the first “port of call” when starting a new career in Australia.
The organisation for your skill or vocational area will usually provide qualifications assessment, bridging courses and professional development opportunities, as well as networking and industry social events.
Professions Australia is a national organisation of professional associations. They have member organisations covering a wide range of vocational areas. To find out more go to http://www.professions.com.au/
You may also wish to take a look at http://www.journoz.com/ausproforgs.html
You can also get links to organisations through the Dept of Immigration Skills Recognition Information Occupations List (see above).
For Accountants
CPA Australia http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/cpa/hs.xsl/index.html
Institute of Chartered Accountants http://www.charteredaccountants.com.au/
National Institute of Accountants http://www.nia.org.au/
Institute of Actuaries Australia http://www.actuaries.asn.au/default.htm
For IT Professionals
Australian Information Industry Association http://www.aiia.com.au/
Australian Computer Society http://www.acs.org.au/
For Engineers
Engineers Australia http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/
Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy http://www.ausimm.com.au/
Water Engineering Australia http://www.waterengineeringaustralia.com.au/
For Doctors and Surgeons
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners http://www.racgp.org.au/
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons http://www.surgeons.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
Australian Medical Council http://www.amc.org.au/
Australian Medical Association http://www.nswama.com.au/
NSW Medical Board http://www.nswmb.org.au/