Changes to assessment criteria of dancer occupations reflect industry standards, opening the way for teachers, dance artists and choreographers in a wide array of styles and backgrounds to work in Australia.
Ausdance VIC, alongside the Ausdance National Network consulted with VETASSESS and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment to make changes to the Skilled Migration Program to better reflect the occupational standards needed for employment in Dance in Australia.
The skills assessment criteria for migration purposes of Dance Teachers (Private Tuition), Dancers or Choreographers will no longer require an AQF-level bachelor degree but will require an AQF level diploma. This reflects the reality that many dance professions are practice based and can involve culturally based and apprentice-based training. It also acknowledges that, while valuable, a bachelor-level qualification is not as relevant for migration purposes as a diploma-level qualification, to which skills can be mapped more readily.
In addition to the new qualification requirements, the Group C criteria for employment experience will apply.
The change will take effect from 1 October 2021.
VETASSESS Executive Director Rob Thomason says engagement with industry peak bodies such as Ausdance assists VETASSESS to ensure that assessment criteria can be updated to reflect the skill levels required by the industry.
“The updated criteria should ensure that applicants with the relevant qualifications and work experience can get a successful skills assessment,” he said.
Information for the occupations can be found here:
And more information on the required criteria in this information sheet.