Advocacy Groups Seek National Migrant Skills Commissioner

Organisations are calling for a national commissioner to address the systemic barriers preventing migrants from working in their fields.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Careers

Isometric editorial illustration of a brass compass resting on stacked geometric blocks, representing systemic professional credential recognition. — Advocacy groups in Australia are urging the government to appoint a national migrant skills commissioner to streamline credential recognition for professionals. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should the government streamline the process for recognising foreign professional qualifications in Australia?

Advocacy groups are urging for the appointment of a national commissioner to oversee the recognition of migrant skills in Australia. The proposal aims to tackle the widespread issue of skilled migrants working in positions well below their professional qualifications.

Why it matters

The country currently faces significant skills shortages in critical professions while simultaneously struggling with a complicated and costly qualification recognition process. This disconnect prevents thousands of migrants from contributing their full expertise to the workforce.

Research shows migrant women are 20 per cent more likely to be over-qualified than their male counterparts, with 340,000 currently employed below their skill level. Recognition of overseas medical qualifications currently requires an average of two years and $50,000.

The players

Settlement Services International

This organisation provides support and research regarding the employment and social integration of migrants and refugees in Australia.

Farukh Tahery

An accountant who previously worked in Afghanistan and moved to Australia in 2021.

Consuelo Castillo

A migrant who previously accumulated seven years of teaching experience while working in Chile.

The details

Migrants must navigate a fragmented and expensive system to have their overseas credentials accepted, often resulting in prolonged periods of underemployment. Organizations like Settlement Services International continue to provide support to those seeking to align their current roles with their professional backgrounds.

Farukh Tahery moved to Australia in 2021.
The article was published on 24 October 2026.

Market Landscape

The push for a dedicated commissioner represents a structural challenge to the current Australian Skills Quality Authority regulatory framework. By centralising oversight, proponents argue they can better align migrant professional talent with the specific labour shortages facing national industries.

For migrants navigating the labour market, these systemic barriers often mean long-term underemployment and significant out-of-pocket costs to gain local recognition. The proposed changes seek to streamline these processes to ensure professionals can secure roles that match their true capacity.

The takeaway

Simplifying the recognition of overseas qualifications is essential to filling critical roles currently left vacant in the national economy. Migrants should remain engaged with support organisations while monitoring potential policy shifts regarding professional credentialing standards.