All Onshore! This round saw no offshore (outside Australia) applicants invited, confirming that Victoria continues to prioritise locally employed candidates.

In this invitation round, healthcare occupations dropped to the low 70s, a full 10+ points lower than the Subclass 189 stream. Meanwhile, IT and accounting occupations remain fiercely competitive — for instance, Analyst Programmer soared to 100+5 points, a level of competition reminiscent of last year’s peak. It’s worth noting that candidates in the Information & Organisation Professionals category reported annual salaries of AUD 130,000–150,000, meaning that not only are they high-scoring, but also high-earning professionals. This shows Victoria’s continued focus on attracting high-skilled, high-salary, and actively employed professionals, with strong demand across the state for mid- to senior-level expertise.

As state-nominated skilled migration thresholds rise across Australia, success now depends not just on academic qualifications or courses, but increasingly on real-world performance in the Australian job market —Are you working in your nominated occupation? What is your position level? Is your salary aligned with market standards?

It’s fair to say that “occupational alignment + high income” have become the core selection criteria. In the future, staying in Australia won’t be about collecting degrees — it will be about whether you’ve truly built a career in your professional field.

So, don’t wait. Don’t delay. Start sending out resumes, attend interviews, and build your experience now. Because the real competition for migration starts the day your 485 graduate visa is granted.