The Advertising Industry Labour Agreement (AILA) has been negotiated between the Media Federation of Australia (MFA), Advertising Council Australia (ACA) and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to enable the industry to cover key skill shortages that can not be filled by local Australian talent.
In this section
About AILA
On April 18, 2017, the Australian Government announced the replacement of the 457 visa with a new Temporary Skills Shortages (TSS) visa. The majority of ANZSCO codes used by the advertising industry are now on the Short-Term Skills Occupations List (STSOL) providing 2+2 year visas with no pathway to permanent residency.
The Australian advertising industry competes globally and ranks in the top five for creative excellence and marketing effectiveness. The sophisticated and highly technical nature of the industry has opened up opportunities for growth requiring continual investment into cutting edge skills. The industry strongly supports Australian jobs first, but needs access to overseas talent to maintain its international ranking. The AILA has been designed to address this need.
Key Facts
- AILA agreements are for a period of 5 years
- A cap of 300 visas per year (split across MFA and ACA members)
- Individual visas will be up to 4 years with a pathway to Permanent Residency after 3 years
- Participating members/entities will maintain at least 75% Australian workforce
- Minimum of 3 years of work experience for Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visas
- Minimum of 6 years of work experience for Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) visas
- Minimum annual salary of $85,000 (guaranteed earnings)
- A commitment for overseas workers to contribute to recognised industry training programs
- Compulsory Labour Market Testing
- Skills must be consistent with ANZSCO code requirements
- English language for both TSS and ENS
- Standard fees including the Skilling Australia Fund to be paid
- Advertising Specialist (225111)
- Graphic Designer (232411)
- Copywriter (212411)
- Multimedia Designer (232413)
- Web Developer (261212)
FAQs
Who is eligible for an AILA?
Only companies can apply for an AILA, as the AILA is a legal agreement between The Commonwealth of Australia (as represented by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) and the Sponsor. Once a company is granted an AILA, they can apply for individual visas to cover key skills shortages as long as all the criteria set by the DHA is satisfied.
How can a company apply for an AILA?
The MFA/ACA has developed a process to apply for an AILA in conjunction with the DHA. Companies wishing to know more should contact the MFA and/or ACA, depending upon which is the relevant organisation.
What is the MFA/ACA’s role?
The MFA/ACA have signed a ‘Schedule of Responsibilities’ with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). This obligates the MFA/ACA to play an important pre-vetting role before any company can apply for an AILA, including undertaking an annual Expressions of Interest process to manage the 300 visa cap and maintain all records.
How will the AILA affect me if I am already on a visa?
The AILA will have no impact on individuals currently working in Australia on a visa. If you have any questions, you should approach your employer.
Do I need to be a member of the MFA or ACA to apply for an AILA agreement?
Yes. The MFA/ACA have signed a Schedule of Responsibilities with the Department of Home Affairs. Both organisations have important obligations to fulfil, including a pre-vetting role before any organisation can apply for an AILA. The MFA/ACA are unable to undertake these obligations for non-member organisations/entities.
Why is the Advertising Industry Important?
The Australian Advertising Industry competes globally and ranks in the top five worldwide for creative excellence and marketing effectiveness. Annual expenditure on advertising in Australia is estimated at $17.3 billion in 2017 (PwC – Outlook: The Australian Entertainment & Media Outlook 2017-2021).
The industry’s supply chain supports over 200,000 people, either working in advertising or dependent upon advertising. The Australian advertising industry has an impact on our national economy of $40 billion (Deloitte Access Economics, Advertising Pays: The Economic Employment and Business Value of Advertising 2016).
Labour Agreements
More About AILA