Social Worker Migration to Australia: CSOL, AASW, Visas 482, 189, 190 and the PR Pathway
Can this occupation migrate to Australia?
Social Worker (ANZSCO 272511) is a high-level professional occupation (Skill Level 1) that appears on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Unlike many trade occupations, Social Worker is eligible for all three main migration directions: the subclass 482 visa (employer-sponsored, temporary), the subclass 186 visa (employer-sponsored permanent residence), the subclass 189 visa (points-based, no sponsorship needed), and the subclass 190 and 491 visas (state-nominated). This is notable because not many occupations in the health and welfare group are eligible for the independent subclass 189 visa.
To migrate as a social worker, applicants need to complete a skills assessment through the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) — the sole migration skills assessing authority for this occupation in Australia.
ANZSCO and CSOL: position on the occupation list
Social worker is classified under ANZSCO code 272511 (Social Worker), within Skill Level 1 — requiring a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. The scope of work includes counselling and supporting individuals, families and communities dealing with social, economic and psychological issues; intervention in child protection; support for older people and people with disability; and social welfare services.
Occupation 272511 appears on the CSOL and is eligible to participate in the SkillSelect system to lodge an EOI for the subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas. This is an advantage over many other occupations that are not eligible for the subclass 189 visa.
Skills assessing authority: AASW
The migration skills assessing authority for social workers is the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). AASW assesses whether an applicant’s qualifications and experience are equivalent to the Australian Social Worker standard. The assessment covers a review of qualifications (typically a bachelor’s degree in Social Work or equivalent), professional practice experience and, in some cases, completion of a bridging program.
After receiving a positive assessment outcome from AASW, applicants need to register as an AASW member to practise lawfully in Australia. Note that, while Social Work does not currently have mandatory practice registration at the federal level (unlike nursing or medicine), AASW membership is a practical requirement of most employers in the public sector. Check the fees and processing times directly on the AASW website.
Suitable visas: an overview
Social workers have more visa options than most trade occupations: the subclass 189 visa (points-based, independent), the subclass 190 and 491 visas (state-nominated), the subclass 482 visa (employer-sponsored, temporary) and the subclass 186 visa (employer-sponsored, permanent). Choosing the most suitable path depends on your EOI points, your ability to find a sponsoring employer and the needs of each state.
Subclass 189 — independent, points-based
The subclass 189 visa is a permanent residence visa requiring no employer or state nomination — applicants lodge an EOI based on their total points. As Social Worker (272511) is eligible for the subclass 189 visa, applicants need to accumulate a competitive EOI score (often 85–90 points or more in practice, depending on the invitation round). EOI points include age, English, work experience in and outside Australia, qualifications and other factors. Applicants should assess their points carefully before relying on this path.
Subclass 482 — employer-sponsored
The subclass 482 visa (Temporary Skill Shortage), Core Skills Stream, allows an approved employer to sponsor a social worker for a specific position. The maximum visa term is four years. Applicants need a valid assessment outcome from AASW, must meet the English requirement, and the nominated salary must reach the TSMIT. Employers in the health and social services sector (hospitals, NGOs, state government) often meet the TSMIT requirement for a social worker position.
Subclass 186 — employer-sponsored permanent residence
The subclass 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme) under the TRT pathway requires two years of full-time work for the same sponsoring employer, competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent) and the employer’s continued nomination. The social worker occupation (272511) is eligible for the subclass 186 visa under both the TRT and Direct Entry pathways.
Subclasses 190 and 491 — state nomination
Some states — particularly South Australia (SA), Tasmania (TAS), the Northern Territory (NT) and states with high demand for community social services — regularly include Social Worker on their nomination lists. The subclass 190 visa is a permanent residence visa (plus 5 EOI points); the subclass 491 visa is a five-year temporary regional visa (plus 15 points) leading to permanent residence through the subclass 191 visa after three years. Check each state’s official website before every round, as lists change frequently.
English requirement
Social workers need stronger English than the minimum administrative level. The subclass 482 and 186 visas require competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each skill or equivalent). The subclass 189 and 190 visas are points-based — the higher your English (proficient: 7.0, superior: 8.0 in each IELTS band), the higher your EOI score.
In professional practice, a Social Worker in Australia works directly with service users in culturally diverse settings, writes professional reports and works in interdisciplinary teams. The English level needed in practice is considerably higher than the visa’s minimum IELTS 6.0 threshold.
Salary for reference
The figures below are reference points, not guaranteed pay. Actual pay depends on the city or region, level and experience, type of employer, full-time/part-time/casual status, award classification, penalty rates, compulsory superannuation (super) and the visa/sponsorship context.
Labour-market benchmark (official): According to the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile (data from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours), the median weekly earnings for the Social Workers occupation group (ANZSCO 2725) are 2,172 AUD/week — equivalent to roughly 9,410 AUD/month or 112,900 AUD/year on a simple conversion of 52 weeks per year (a pre-tax figure, for reference only, not guaranteed pay). This is the median for full-time, non-managerial, adult-rate, pre-tax workers — neither the minimum nor the maximum, and a figure for the whole occupation group rather than a single role.
Salary range from job ads (market): Sites such as SEEK Salary Insights publish salary ranges based on job advertisements. At the time of this update, AustraliaHub has not been able to verify the SEEK range; you should look it up directly and compare it against the median benchmark above.
Legal minimum floor (legal floor): Social workers fall under the SCHADS Award (MA000100). This is a statutory minimum floor, different from market pay; the specific rate depends on classification level, type of work, allowances and overtime. Look it up with the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/).
Official sources (checked 12/06/2026):
- Jobs and Skills Australia — Social Workers occupation profile (ANZSCO 2725): https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/2725-social-workers
- Fair Work Ombudsman: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
Pathway to permanent residence: summary
There are three main pathways: (1) high points + the subclass 189 visa → permanent residence directly; (2) state nomination → the subclass 190 permanent visa or the 491 → the subclass 191 visa after three years; (3) find a sponsoring employer → the subclass 482 visa → two years of work → the subclass 186 TRT permanent visa. The Social Worker occupation has an advantage because it is eligible for all three directions — choose the most suitable path based on your actual EOI points and your ability to find work in Australia.
Common mistakes
- Confusing it with similar occupations: Counsellor (272199), Youth Worker (411716) and Community Worker (411711) have different ANZSCO codes. Confirm that your actual work matches the ANZSCO 272511 Social Worker description before lodging the AASW application.
- Unrealistic expectations of 189 points: Applicants need to assess their actual EOI points (not the minimum of 65) — the real competitive threshold is often much higher, depending on the invitation round.
- Overlooking the AASW membership requirement after assessment: Receiving an AASW assessment outcome but not registering as an AASW member can affect employability and visa sponsorship in practice.
- Not keeping up with state lists before lodging an EOI: Many states open and close lists in rounds and have extra criteria (job offer, residence in the state) — check the official website before every round.