Western Australia is such a great place to work and live, with fantastic employment opportunities for skilled migrants across a range of exciting industries and occupations.
We want to help you make the most of these opportunities, and to find work where your skills and experience are valued.
But we also understand that you may need a little extra support to make that happen, and that's where our new Skilled Migration Job Connect (Job Connect) program can help!
To assist and support newly arrived skilled migrants to make meaningful connections and overcome barriers to securing employment here in Western Australia, the State Government is investing $4.25 million into a range of programs and services offered through Job Connect.
Select from the following options to find out more about the Job Connect program and how it could help you to participate as soon as fully possible in the WA workforce and community.
Australian Workplace Mentoring program
Through Job Connect Australian Red Cross has been awarded funding to continue delivery of the City of Stirling's highly successful Kaleidoscope Initiative and expand the service to regional WA.
A key focus of the Kaleidoscope Initiative is the Australian Workplace Mentoring program which connects skilled migrants with an Australian mentor in their desired field of work – to assist them to gain employment in WA in an occupation aligning with their formal overseas qualifications, skills and experience.
Australian Workplace Cultural Awareness Training
Through the Kaleidoscope Initiative and in partnership with Evolve WA, Australian Red Cross will also deliver a free Australian Workplace Cultural Awareness Training course.
The five-day training course will focus on aspects like workplace communication, employment rights, pay and obligations to prepare skilled migrants for employment in WA.
Skilled Migrant Job Connect Subsidy Program
The Skilled Migrant Job Connect Subsidy Program (SMJCSP) provides subsidies of up to $7,500 to eligible migrants located in WA who are seeking to gain employment in the local labour market that aligns with their formal overseas qualifications, skills and experience.
Settlement Services
Our specialist Settlement Services team offers free information, referrals and support to help you and your family to settle into your new life here in WA.
A free walk-in service is available at our Perth office but will be extended to regional areas of WA later in the year.
Skilled Migrant Job Connect Subsidy program
To assist you in gaining employment in Western Australia that aligns with your overseas qualification, skills and experience the Skilled Migrant Job Connect Subsidy program aims to provide financial assistance so you can access approved services such as licensing, registration and skills assessments for employment purposes.
Eligibility requirements and approved services
The following information goes into detail on eligibility requirements, a list of approved employment-related services, and service providers who you can contact.
How to register to become a Job Connect Subsidy Claimant
The following information explains how you can register to become a Job Connect Subsidy Claimant to allow you to submit a claim.
To register as a Job Connect Subsidy claimant, you must complete the Skilled Migrant Job Connect Subsidy registration form, and provide information about the approved service you intend to claim for.
Once we receive your registration form, the Job Connect team will allocate you a unique identifier (eg JCS001) that you can quote for future claims.
By submitting the Skilled Migrant Job Connect Subsidy registration form, you agree to comply with the Skilled Migrant Job Connect Terms and Conditions(opens in a new tab).
You will need to provide supporting evidence and documents to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility requirements and the Terms and conditions(opens in a new tab).
Any supporting evidence and documents you submit should be high-quality colour copies of the original and include English translation if applicable.
Examples of the types of supporting evidence and documents you will need to prepare are listed below.
Other supporting evidence and documents may be requested to support your claim.
Providing the supporting evidence and documents listed below and/or as requested does not guarantee that your claim will be approved.
| Job Connect claimant registration and re-validation requirements | Examples of suitable evidence |
|---|---|
| That you are onshore and residing in WA |
At least one of the following:
|
| That you have arrived in WA within the last 10 years |
Visa grant notification and Flight details of arriving in Western Australia and Evidence of previous employment in WA |
| That you currently hold a valid visa with working rights |
Visa grant notification including conditions of visa approval and Visa notification within passport and Current and valid VEVO check |
| That you are actively seeking or have obtained WA employment in an occupation aligning with your formal overseas qualifications, skills and experience, as at 1 January 2023 |
Current CV/resume (which includes overseas and Australian employment) or Evidence of overseas or Australian employment references.
Copy of employment offer or Employment contract (where employment commenced after 1 January 2023) or Job application/s (within 3 months of claim) and job advertisement with the requirements |
| That you are an approved Job Connect Subsidy claimant |
Provide evidence of personal unique Job Connect identifier |
| Subsidy claim application requirements | Suitable evidence |
| That you have received an approved service |
Receipt invoice for service received, clearly indicating date and service received on service provider letter head and Outcome of service provided (including but no limited to: a copy of the licence, certificate or registration) and Copy of a recent bank statement identifying the payment of service being claimed was paid for by yourself |
| How the approved service is related to WA employment in an occupation aligning with your formal overseas qualifications, skills and experience |
Job Description for proposed employment position or Job advertisement including mandatory requirements or Employment contract |
| How the approved service will help you to gain WA employment at the skill level of the occupation that aligns with your formal overseas qualification/s, skills and experience |
Qualification based evidence: Overseas qualifications (in English or include a certified translated copy in English); or Valid skills assessment (where the skills assessment has been granted based on studies completed overseas. Skills Assessments that have been granted based on the completion of an Australian qualification cannot be considered). Evidence of an assessment completed by the Overseas Qualifications Unit may also be provided, but will be used in conjunction with other supporting evidence.
Skills and experience based evidence: Current CV/resume (which includes overseas employment); or Evidence of overseas or Australian employment references; |
Once you receive an email confirmation from our Job Connect team confirming your registration, you can reply via email and submit your supporting evidence and documents.
Being successfully registered as a Job Connect claimant does not guarantee that your subsidy claim will be approved.
Once the assessment of your claim begins, you may be asked to provide further information by email.
You will have the opportunity to request a review of your Job Connect Subsidy claim outcome.
Your review request should outline clearly why a review is required.
Please email your completed Request a review form to jobconnect@dtwd.wa.gov.au.
All requests to review must be received by WA Migration Services within 14 calendar days of the date of the email advising of the outcome of the Job Connect Subsidy claim.