- Home
- Working & Employment
- Finding a Job Information, tips and links to help you find a job in Melbourne or regional Victoria.
- Occupations Career information for skilled migrants. Our job guide has industry overviews, what you'll earn, how to find a job, licensing and registration info and industry contacts.
- Starting a Job Before you start to work in Victoria learn about your rights and responsibilities as an Australian employee.
- Get Connected, Get a Job A wide range of industry associations and professional associations are available to help you find a job and meet other professionals in Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Industries Information on Victoria's industries, including the work industry in Melbourne. Profiles on industry size, job guides and industry contacts for finding work in Victoria.
- Visas & Immigrating
- Skilled Visas An overview of the migration visas available to skilled professionals and tradespeople interested in migrating to Australia.
- Business Visas An overview of the migration visas available to business professionals and owners interested in migrating to Australia.
- State Sponsorship The Victorian Government sponsors visas for skilled and business migrants interested in living in Victoria, Australia.
- Occupation Lists See the Victorian State Sponsorship list to find out if your occupation is in demand and eligible for state sponsorship by the Victorian Government.
- How to Migrate Find out about the process of how to migrate to Victoria, Australia. Victoria's Skilled and Business Migration Program offers assistance in a number of ways.
- FAQs About Skilled Sponsorship & Visas Answers to migrant questions about skilled sponsored visas offered by the Victorian Government in Australia.
- Living in Victoria
- Melbourne & Regional Victoria Information and interactive maps of Melbourne and the different regions of Victoria, Australia.
- Cost of Living Information on the cost of living in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Useful for people looking to live and work in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Housing & Property Information on accommodation, housing and property in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Transport & Driving Information on transportation in Victoria, including public transport, driving, car hire and car purchase.
- Education & Childcare Information on education in Victoria, including kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, universities and training.
- Health & Medical Information on the healthcare system in Victoria, Australia, including information on finding a doctor and paying for healthcare.
- About Victoria General information and facts about Victoria and Australia including the government, entertainment, sports, banking, media and communications.
- Relocation Checklist Relocation checklists to use for migrants who move to Victoria. Checklists for preparing for departure and arriving in Victoria.
- Running a Business
- Why Victoria? Reasons for starting and running a business in Victoria, Australia.
- Going into Business in Victoria Information about starting up a business in Victoria.
- Banking, Tax & Legal Requirements Information about banking and taxes for businesses in Victoria.
- Business Support & Networks Information about the support available to businesses in Victoria.
- About Us
- Our Department Information about the Victorian Government's Skilled and Business Migration Program, which manages the Live in Victoria website.
- News & Events The latest news and events from the Skilled and Business Migration Program covering topics for skilled migrants, business migrants and migration agents.
- Services We Offer About the Skilled and Business Migration Program's services for prospective skilled and business migrants, Victorian employers and migration agents.
- Publications Links to downloadable publications and forms about immigrating to Melbourne or regional Victoria.
- Contact Us Contact details for the Skilled and Business Migration Program including address, phone numbers and email addresses, and a general enquiry form.
- Glossary of Acronyms & Abbreviations A list of acronyms and terms that relate to migrating to Victoria, with definitions and relevant links.
International Graduates
Graduating international students in Victoria, Australia, may be eligible for a number of options for further visas. These visa options may include:
- a temporary graduate visa to gain work experience
- an independent visa
- a state or territory sponsored visa
- an employer sponsored visa
- a family sponsored visa.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website provides information about your full range of visa options and their processing priorities. The DIAC website will help you find out if you are eligible for one of these visas or check the table below for a broad overview of the kinds of visas that may suit you.
State sponsorship
The Victorian Government provides free sponsorship for eligible international graduates with specific skills, who have completed their studies in Australia and want to live and work in Victoria. Check the State Sponsorship Occupation List for Graduates to see if your specific skills are eligible for state sponsorship.
Visa options for international students
As a graduating international student there are several pathways to permanent residency, depending upon your personal situation. Identify your situation below and work out which visa type may suit you.
| I'm in Australia and I have: | Sponsored or independent? |
This visa may suit you: |
|---|---|---|
| recently graduated from an Australian university, I’m on a student or qualifying visa and I have skilled occupation - see the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) - Schedule 1 on the DIAC site |
Independent |
Skilled - Independent (885) visa |
| an offer of employment in a regional area of Victoria, for an occupation on the Victorian Government State Sponsorship Occupation List |
State Sponsored |
Skilled - Regional Sponsored (487) visa |
| recently graduated from an Australian university, have an occupation on the Victorian Government State Sponsorship List for Graduates and I'm on a student or qualifying visa | State Sponsored |
Skilled - Sponsored (886) visa |
|
recently completed a qualification gained in Australia as a result of at least two years study and I'm on a student visa |
Independent |
Skilled - Graduate (485) visa |
| completed a PhD within a Victorian university and have an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (Schedule 1 and 2) (201 KB, PDF file) |
State Sponsored |
Skilled-Sponsored (866) visa |
| I'm NOT in Australia and I have: | Sponsored or independent? |
This visa may suit you: |
|---|---|---|
| graduated from a recognised overseas university |
Independent |
|
| completed a PhD within a Victorian university and have an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (Schedule 1 and 2) (201 KB, PDF file) |
State Sponsored |
Support for international graduates
Career services at your educational institution
While you are still studying, use the career advisory and employment services available through your educational institution. Career staff are well-connected with past graduates who are now employing people and they also understand the job market. They are usually available to help you personally and they may also organise a range of seminars you can attend to help you search for a job.
Careers services also have a range of resources and information to help you decide your career direction, teach you how to find opportunities and how to market your skills and successfully apply for jobs. For more information about careers services on campus, visit the Graduate Opportunities website.
Professional year program for international graduates
Undertaking a professional year can also provide you with the opportunity to gain important work skills and experience in your chosen occupation.
For more information about professional year programs currently available to recent international graduates visit the DIAC website.
Stories from international graduates
Read stories about these international graduates who have made Victoria their home:
- Lourdes Serios’ story
Lourdes is from the Philippines and is now a nurse, living and working in Melbourne - Muhammad Akram’s story
Muhammad is from Pakistan and is now a research fellow living and working in Melbourne.
Further information
For more information about graduate employment visit the following websites:
- MyFuture
- youth.gov.au
- Graduate Opportunities
- UniGrad
- Graduate Careers Australia
- GradCareers
- GraduateInfo
To discuss your options for state sponsorship or any other queries, please Contact Us.
