Important information for prospective employers

The Job Ready Program (JRP) is for international student graduates. You must hold a trade qualification issued by a registered training organisation based on studies in Australia.

JRP provides applicants with the opportunities to show their skills and job readiness in an Australian workplace. Skills need to be demonstrated in the nominated occupation before they apply for migration in Australia.

Employers have the opportunity to engage employees with Australian trade qualifications. Participants are employed under normal employment arrangements and the employer retains the right to manage the employment.

Participants have:

• an Australian trade level qualification completed in Australia
• some work experience in a relevant occupation.

The program requires the participant to:

• prove their trade skills in an Australian workplace
• undertake a minimum of 12 months of full-time paid employment (or equivalent part-time employment)
• work under the supervision of a qualified person who has industry knowledge and experience in their occupation.

During employment, participants must:

• complete Employment Verification Report (EVR) and Skills Assessment Report (SPR)
• undertake a workplace assessment conducted by a TRA-approved RTO which occurs after the 6-month full-time paid employment (or equivalent part-time employment) requirement has been met. This assessment determines if the participant has been operating at the required skill level for their occupation.

The employer/supervisor must:

• understand that TRA may contact an employer to confirm information provided in an online application, an Employment Verification Report (EVR) and/or Skills Progress Report (SPR) and will require a contact telephone number for every person listed in application documents. Before contacting the employer, TRA will independently verify that the number is linked to the organisation where the applicant is employed. See Section 3.1.10 of JRP Applicant Guidelines for further information on the verification process
• complete and sign an EVR
• understand that TRA may contact them to verify participants employment arrangements or to conduct a visit to their workplace
• understand that TRA appointed RTO may contact them to arrange a visit to the workplace by either a JRP officer or a TRA nominated representative, and that a workplace assessment may be conducted at the business premises
• have sufficient industry knowledge and experience to supervise a JRP participant and confirm their skills in the nominated occupation
• provide a JRP participant with an appropriate work environment and the tools and equipment to complete appropriate tasks and duties to enable the participant to demonstrate a broad range of skills in their nominated occupation
• confirm and sign SPRs
• understand that any personal information provided may be used only as allowed by the Privacy Act 1988 (See Clause 3.3)
• allow staff authorised by the Department and TRA‐approved assessors to access the workplace.

A JRP program officer is responsible for:

• reviewing JRP employment arrangements, which may include a phone call or site visit to the workplace
• advising participants, employers, and supervisors about their responsibilities within the JRP
• reviewing participant work hours and progression of skill development
• coordinating assessment arrangement with TRA-approved workplace assessors
• responding to enquiries from prospective applicants, participants, employer/s and other people
• issuing skills assessment outcomes as determined by TRA
• adhering to the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct.

Participants may approach employers seeking employment. Employers can also approach a registered training organisation that trains international students to find a participant.