Journalists and Other Writers nec (ANZSCO 212499)

On the Short-term Skilled Occupation List and Core Skills Occupation List

From the official Home Affairs skilled occupation lists, as at 2026-08-12. Lists change at each government update — always confirm on the official page before acting.

Which lists is Journalists and Other Writers nec on?

STSOL — Short-term Skilled Occupation List. Occupations on the STSOL can access state-nominated and regional skilled visas (190/491), but not the Skilled Independent 189.

CSOL — Core Skills Occupation List. The employer-sponsorship list — occupations on the CSOL can be nominated for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme 186.

Visas this occupation can access

Being on a list makes the occupation nominatable for these visas — each visa still has its own requirements (points, age, English, a positive skills assessment, and for sponsored visas a willing employer or state).

Processing priority

Journalists and Other Writers nec isn't in any of the ANZSCO groups that Directions 121 and 122 list for the priority sectors. Some of the first group is defined by the job rather than the code: a nominated position directly involved in agriculture, aquaculture or fishing, one that directly supports mining, oil and gas or coal production, or one related to defence. Otherwise the application is processed after the priority sectors. For the permanent and provisional skilled visas, applicants who were in Australia when they applied come next, then those who applied from outside Australia. For the 482, Specialist Skills stream applications come before both.

Priority changes the order in which lodged applications are looked at, not whether they are granted. Who is invited to apply through SkillSelect is decided separately. See all 202 occupations in the priority sectors.

Skills assessment

A positive skills assessment for Journalists and Other Writers nec comes from:

What the assessment actually involves

Journalists and Other Writers nec is a Group B occupation and, as an nec code, carries VETASSESS's standard instruction: a cover letter justifying why none of the eight named writing and journalism titles apply — the widest exclusion list found anywhere in this family, naming Copywriter, Newspaper or Periodical Editor, Print Journalist, Radio Journalist, Television Journalist, Technical Writer, Author, and Book or Script Editor. Its own suitable list names Blogger, Critic, Editorial Assistant, Photo Journalist, and Vlogger.

Where these applications come unstuck

This is where a working photojournalist actually belongs: Photographer's own page excludes 'Photo Journalist' by name, and this nec code's own suitable list names 'Photo Journalist' directly — a photojournalist fits neither Photographer nor any of the five specific journalist codes, only this residual category, confirmed from two independently fetched pages rather than inferred. The same applies to bloggers, critics and vloggers, modern content-creator titles VETASSESS places here by name rather than under any of the eight named exclusions.

An honest read on this pathway

Journalists and Other Writers nec reaches six visas — 186, 190, 407, 482, 491, 494 — via combined STSOL and CSOL membership, out-reaching Copywriter and Newspaper or Periodical Editor, two of its own named exclusions, which each reach only four visas with no employer sponsorship at all. A code that exists specifically because a title has nowhere more specific to go carries a better visa list than two of the specifically named titles that sit beside it.

VETASSESS assesses qualifications and employment separately. Both need documentation that agrees with itself. The Employment History Builder and Document Vault organise each trail before you lodge.

Talk it through with a registered agent

Whether nominating Journalists and Other Writers nec is your best route depends on your points, experience evidence and timing — exactly what a MARA-registered agent works through in an initial consultation. Describe your situation once through Migratio and compare real consultation quotes from registered agents, free.

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All skilled occupations · Points calculator · Skilled visa agents