Marine Surveyor, Ships Engineer, Shipwrights and Boat Builders are among several occupations that are flagged for possible removal from SOL

The Department of Education and Training is responsible for providing advice to the Government on the composition of the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

The annual review of the SOL takes into account the labour market prospects of skilled migrants along with domestic training and labour market outcomes.

Following each review, there are a number of occupations which are ‘flagged’ for possible removal in the future. The 2016 / 2017 review has resulted in Ships Engineer, Ships Master and Officers, Marine Surveyor, Naval Architect and Shipwright and Boat Builder all being flagged for removal from the list.

Industry feedback has cited the flagging of these occupations as a potential boost to the sector which will encourage cross training for existing non-maritime engineers and mechanics and allow them to move into the maritime sector.

AIMS Executive Officer Susan Hull advised that the news of the flagging of marine surveyors was a potential boost to accredited marine surveyor training and the industry generally. This is good news for the industry, for training and for encouraging employers to look at cross sector synergies said Hull. We now have a chance at getting Government to assist further through traineeships and incentives to employers to take on new entrants.

A significant percentage of our students in the Diploma qualification are previously qualified mariners or skilled engineers who miss out on job opportunities due to 457 visa holders.

According to the most recent figures from the Department of Immigration, there are 303 foreign workers employed in the maritime industry under the 457 program — that is despite hundreds of similarly qualified Australians looking for work

https://www.education.gov.au/flagged-occupations-sol-2016-17