Why Do I Need to be Visa Ready?

The Australian Government has introduced stricter rules for visa applications, resulting in a higher chance of visa refusals. Many applicants who don’t seek professional help find their visas rejected without the opportunity to correct missing information or explain any discrepancies. A visa refusal can make it significantly harder to obtain any future Australian visas.

Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to get professional assistance in preparing a complete, well-organised, and clearly articulated visa application. This support can greatly enhance your chances of approval.

To assist you, we now offer an affordable Visa Ready Assessment. This service will help you determine if you’re ready to apply for an Australian visa with all the necessary documents prepared in line with Australian Government requirements. This is especially important for the subclass 482 and 186 visas, particularly with the new Skills in Demand program coming into effect in December 2024.

Visa Ready Assessment Service for Aged Care Job Placement*

We have partnered with reputable Australian employers in the Aged Care sector to help them source high quality and eligible international candidates to fill their workforce needs. If you would like Ferntree Migration to include your profile for our partner employers’ consideration, we will only accept candidates into our job placement program once they have passed our Visa Ready Assessment.

*Any sharing of candidate profiles is for employer consideration only and does not constitute employment placement, recruitment services, or guaranteed sponsorship outcomes.

Our professional service fee is $700 AUD per assessment, excluding GST.  This fee relates solely to the Visa Ready Assessment and profile preparation and does not include job placement services.

Get Your Job Ready, Visa Ready Assessment Today

Click the button below to go to the service order page.

Watch Catherine’s Video on Fast-Track Aged Care Visa Eligibility

What Clients Say

NOTE: Submission of this form does not guarantee employment or sponsorship and does not create an obligation on Ferntree Migration to secure placement.  Please also review our Visa Ready Assessment Limited Engagement Agreement.

NOTE: Submission of this form does not guarantee employment or sponsorship and does not create an obligation on Ferntree Migration to secure placement. Please also review our Visa Ready Assessment Limited Engagement Agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Visa Ready Assessment

1. Where in Australia is the sponsorship located?

All throughout Australia, particularly in outer and regional areas where there are more acute shortages of health workers. The labour shortage in this sector is estimated to be at least 11,000 workers within the next ten years.

2. What type of visa is granted? Is it short-term or long-term?

Overseas employees can be nominated for Subclass 482 (Labour agreement stream) visas, which can be granted for up to four years.

3. What is the permanent residency path afterward? Will consultancy be provided for applying for permanent residency?

There is a pathway to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 visa for those who have already worked in Australia on a 482 visa. Yes, Ferntree Migration can assist in applying for this 186 visa.

4. About dependents: whether they can come to Australia with the primary applicant?

Yes, it is generally possible to include dependents in your primary visa application. You can typically include immediate family members (spouse and children under the age of 25) when you lodge your visa application.

5. Are there any other expenses other than the quoted amount?

Our professional service fee for Visa Ready Assessment only covers the time needed for Ferntree Migration experts to carry out a comprehensive review of documents submitted to us. It does not include any other fees or expenses needed to acquire some of the documents required in the checklist.

6. Can the payment be made in instalments? Can part of the payment be made after applying for PR?

Unfortunately, we do not offer instalments for this service fee. With our 482 / 186 visa application preparation full service, we charge 50% upon confirmation of our engagement, and the remaining 50% is payable when the visa application is ready for submission to Australia’s Home Affairs Department.

7. What is the monthly income of the employment? Is there a fixed time duration that we have to work with the sponsor?

The Skilled Migration Income Threshold for the Aged Care Industry Labour agreement is set at $51,222 per annum, excluding superannuation, at the time of preparation of this document. Salary offered by employers may vary depending on the individual employer.

8. What are the documents required for this procedure?

The documentation required for this procedure is quite extensive and includes:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of skills and qualifications – certified copies of qualification and transcript of results
• Proof of work experience, if any – official position descriptions for relevant work experience and a letter from the employer showing details of the position

To initiate the process, please complete our complimentary preliminary questionnaire below. This free assessment will assist us in determining whether you qualify for our fee-based Visa Ready Assessment, which is prerequisite for inclusion in our job placement programs. Only candidates who have successfully passed our Visa Ready Assessment are eligible for consideration for job placements.

A comprehensive list of documents required will be provided to you upon your engagement with Ferntree Migration for the conduct of a thorough Visa Ready Assessment.

9. Is IELTS or PTE required? What is the minimum score?

Generally, an IELTS score of at least 5.0 is required. For those employed by culturally and linguistically diverse providers, a minimum IELTS score of 4.5 may be accepted. Please note that this requirement may be higher if the employer does not have a Labour Agreement in place.

10. What services are included in the contract?

Under our Visa Ready Assessment service, we conduct a thorough review of all provided documents to ensure compliance with stringent documentation requirements, thereby maximising your chances of securing an employment offer and obtaining a visa grant.

11. Has the sponsor signed the Labour Agreement?

Our partner employers may or may not have a Labour Agreement in place.

12. Is a separate First Aid certificate required? Is a separate CPR certificate required? If so, from where?

No, this is not a standard pre-requisite for employment. However, you may be required to undertake these training sessions during employment upon request.

13. Do we need post-qualification experience in the job?

No post-qualification work experience is required for the Labour Agreement stream 482 visa, as long as you meet the qualification or relevant work experience requirements.
For permanent residency via the ENS 186 visa, if you are sponsored under the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement, you must complete at least two years of full-time work in Australia in your nominated aged care role.

14. What is the typical timeframe for the entire process?

The typical processing time for an Aged or Disabled Carer assessment under the Industry Labour Agreement is four weeks. The full visa process time can vary depending on the processing backlog.

15. Is a Skill Assessment required?

Yes. A relevant skills assessment is mandatory for all applicants in the Labour agreement stream, even if your qualification was obtained in Australia.
For applicants under the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement:
• Nursing Support Worker and Personal Care Assistant roles are assessed by ANMAC.
• Aged or Disabled Carer roles are assessed by ACWA.
This applies regardless of whether you hold an Australian or overseas qualification or are relying on work experience.

16. Is there an age limit to apply for 482 visa?

The applicant can be any age for a 482 visa but will need to be under 45 for ENS 186 visa.

17.  Do you guarantee employment or employer sponsorship?

No. Ferntree Migration is a registered migration advisory practice. Our Visa Ready Assessment confirms eligibility for relevant visa pathways and, where appropriate, allows a candidate’s profile to be shared with employers for consideration only. Employment offers, sponsorship decisions, and labour agreement use are determined solely by employers. We do not provide employment placement services or guarantee sponsorship, timeframes, or visa outcomes.  Please also review our Visa Ready Assessment Limited Engagement Agreement.

Get Your Job Ready, Visa Ready Assessment Today

Click the button below to go to the service order page.

About Cathrine Burnett-Wake

Director & Principal Migration Agent at Ferntree Migration

Cathrine Burnett-Wake stands as a beacon of expertise and trust in the Australian migration landscape. With over two decades dedicated to the intricate world of immigration and visas, she has garnered a reputation that’s synonymous with reliability and excellence.

Before her role at Ferntree Migration, Cathrine served her community passionately as a state MP for the Eastern Victoria region. This position allowed her to deeply understand the unique needs and aspirations of those she served, knowledge she brings forward to her migration consultancy every day.

A proud alumnus of the Australian National University, Cathrine’s attained a Master of Laws (Migration) and was awarded the Fragomen Prize for attaining the highest academic results in her graduating year. Her tenure from 2017 to 2021 at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal further solidified her as a hands-on expert, making pivotal decisions that impacted lives and shaped futures.

Community and compassion lie at the core of Cathrine’s values. For over 12 years, she was a cornerstone of the Casey Cardinia Legal Service, where she extended her expertise to aid women on temporary visas facing challenging situations, ensuring they found hope, safety, and legal clarity.

But Cathrine’s talents aren’t just confined to the legal world. Her creative venture into film production led to the creation of ‘The last time I saw you’, a touching film narrative about a Hazarra refugee and the challenges settling into Australia that has been recognised and celebrated both nationally and internationally.

At Ferntree Migration, Cathrine doesn’t just offer services; she offers partnerships. She understands that behind every application and every query lies a dream, a story, a future waiting to unfold. Her approach is holistic, ensuring that every client receives not just legal advice, but genuine care, guidance, and a steadfast commitment to their migration goals.

Our Vision

We to be the leading force in Australian migration, offering unmatched expertise and tailored advice to each client. Our priority is to provide strategic counsel, support genuine applications, and advocate for them at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Our goal? To bring hope, safety, and legal clarity through compassionate partnerships, positively impacting lives.