It will be easier for game development specialists to obtain a residence permit in Australia as 47 video game development roles will be recognized through Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) codes and added to the Skilled Occupations List, ArtsHub reports.
The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) has identified 2 major impediments to attracting senior international talent to Australia:
1. The lack of accommodations for game development jobs in existing migration codes.
2. The lack of clear pathways towards permanent residency for game developers who move to Australia for work.
Currently, Australia’s Skilled Occupations List (SOL) contains eligible occupations for high-skilled immigration to Australia based on the skill level and specialization necessary to perform the tasks. An employer is required to nominate a category through which a working visa is processed.
Game developers who hope to work in Australia have to apply for an employment visa under the code 261211 Multimedia Specialist, categorized within the Unit group 2612 Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers. While this category covers some roles, there are many game-related occupations that this category doesn’t account for.
Here’s the extract from the ANZSCO:
261211 MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST
Alternative Titles: Electronic Game Developer, Multimedia Developer, Multimedia Programmer
Creates and manipulates computer animation, audio, video and graphic image files into multimedia programs to produce data and content for CD-ROMs, information kiosks, multimedia presentations, websites, mobile telephone resources, electronic gaming environments, e-commerce and e-security solutions, and entertainment and education products.
Previously, an Australian games studio had to prove that the job they are recruiting for actually exists. This process could take months and cost thousands of dollars in application fees.
The introduction of 47 games-specific occupation codes will help streamline the hiring process. In particular, the list will include such roles as (Senior) Rendering Engineer and (Senior) Graphics Engineer within the existing Multimedia Specialists category that had previously covered all game development. Other examples are 232413 Multimedia Designer accommodating Level Designer and 232412 Illustrator covering Environment Artist.
Inclusion on the Skilled Occupation list also determines whether an occupation qualifies for a pathway to permanent residency — e. g. whether it’s on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or Regional Occupation Lists.
Currently, game developers who are hired in the MLTSSL stream will qualify for permanent residency, while other game-related roles classified within the STSOL stream (like artists, marketing experts, and some designers) will be forced to leave Australia after a maximum of 2 years.
IGEA has proposed a labor agreement that would allow Australian games studios to sponsor skilled overseas workers. This agreement, which is still being assessed by the Department of Home Affairs, would facilitate local studios in hiring across all game development roles.
Read also:
→ IT workplace culture and working conditions in Australia
→ 35 gaming jobs with relocation to Sweden in July/August 2020 (part 1)
→ 35 gaming jobs with relocation to Sweden in July/August 2020 (part 2)