Hi everyone,
I’m asking on behalf of a friend who’s in a bit of a tricky situation with PR planning.
He has completed 1 year of experience in residential construction in Australia (small company). His role includes coordinating with architects, engineers, surveyors, and certifiers, handling client communication and invoicing, and working closely with the site supervisor.
He’s planning to apply for PR (189/190/491) and has around 90 points.
The main confusion is around skill assessment with VETASSESS:
- His title is “Project Manager” but it’s a small firm and responsibilities are somewhat shared.
- He’s not sure whether to apply as Construction Project Manager or Project Administrator.
- From what I understand, Project Manager has better invitation chances but higher rejection risk, while Project Administrator is safer but seems to have fewer invitations (especially in NSW).
Another concern is about qualifications and experience:
- He has completed two master’s degrees, one of them in Project Management.
- We’re unsure whether VETASSESS might consider his 1 year experience as “not yet skilled” or require more post-qualification experience if they don’t find the degree highly relevant.
On top of that, his current employer is asking for money back and reducing hours, so he’s also unsure whether he should stay employed while applying.
Questions:
Has anyone with a similar background (small firm, mixed responsibilities) successfully applied as Project Manager?
Is it safer to go with Project Administrator and rely on 190/491 pathways?
Does VETASSESS count 1 year experience with a Project Management degree, or can they still deduct it?
Does being unemployed for a short period affect PR chances or skill assessment?
Would really appreciate insights from anyone who has gone through VETASSESS or similar situations.
Thanks!