For many skilled Australian visas, such as the Skills in Demand (SID) Subclass 482 visa, the work experience requirement is designed to be flexible. While “full-time” is the gold standard for assessment, the Department of Home Affairs allows for various employment types as long as they meet the criteria for skill level and duration.

1. Types of Employment That Count

You do not necessarily need to be in a permanent, full-time role to meet the experience requirements. The following types of employment are generally recognized:

• Part-time and Casual Work: You can count part-time and casual employment toward your requirement, provided the hours worked add up to the equivalent of the required full-time duration.
• Self-Employment: If you have operated your own business or worked as an independent contractor, this can count as relevant experience, provided you can supply sufficient evidence (e.g., business registration, tax documents, and client contracts) to prove the work was at the required skill level.
• Formal Placements and Internships: Experience gained through formal arrangements—such as internships, apprenticeships, or clinical placements—can often be counted if they were part of a registered course of study (CRICOS) or were undertaken at the appropriate skill level of your nominated occupation.
• Research-Based Experience: For certain occupations (e.g., medical or scientific researchers), time spent on the research components of a Master’s or PhD program may be credited as professional work experience.

2. Crucial Eligibility Rules

Regardless of your employment type, your work experience must satisfy three primary “quality” filters:

• Skill Level: The work must have been performed at the appropriate skill level for your nominated occupation as defined by ANZSCO. For example, experience as a “Kitchen Hand” cannot be counted toward the requirement for a “Chef” position because the roles are at different skill levels.
• Relevance: The tasks you performed must be the same as, or closely related to, the duties described for your nominated occupation.
• Recency: In most cases, your experience must have been gained within the five years immediately preceding your visa application.

3. How Hours are Calculated

The Department typically defines full-time work as 32 to 45 hours per week.

• Pro-rata calculation: If you work part-time or casual hours, your experience is calculated on a pro-rata basis. For example, if you work 20 hours per week (roughly 50% of a full-time load), you would need to work for two years to accrue the equivalent of one year of full-time experience.
• Documenting hours: When listing casual or part-time work on your resume or EOI, avoid using the label “casual.” Instead, clearly state the average number of hours worked per week, as this allows case officers to accurately calculate your total full-time equivalent (FTE) experience.

Pro-Tips for Proving Your Experience

• Evidence is everything: Regardless of whether you were a casual worker or a full-time employee, you must provide proof. Keep payslips, bank statements showing salary deposits, employment contracts, and detailed reference letters that outline your specific duties and average weekly hours.
• Consistency: The work does not need to be continuous. You can combine multiple periods of employment across different employers, provided all periods were in the same or a closely related occupation.