Absolutely, and thank you for having me. The landscape for IT graduates has actually improved considerably over the last two to three years. Australia is facing a significant skills shortage in technology — cloud architects, cybersecurity specialists, AI engineers, data scientists, software developers — across virtually every sector. This shortage has translated directly into more favourable immigration settings. The Skills in Demand visa framework, the points-tested streams, and occupation lists have all been recalibrated to prioritise STEM talent. For a well-prepared IT graduate, the pathway to PR is very real and, in many cases, achievable within two to three years post-graduation.

Great question. The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List — commonly called the MLTSSL — includes a broad range of ICT occupations. Right now, the ones with the strongest demand include Software Engineers, ICT Business Analysts, Database Administrators, Cybersecurity Analysts, Network Engineers, and Systems Administrators. What matters is picking a discipline that is both academically strong and has structural, long-term demand. Cybersecurity and cloud computing are very safe bets for the foreseeable future.

There are several layers. First, choose a course that leads to an occupation on the MLTSSL. Second, ensure your institution is CRICOS-registered. Third, think about specialisation — a major in cybersecurity, AI, or cloud infrastructure immediately differentiates you. Fourth — and this is often overlooked — build Australian work experience from year one. Internships, part-time roles, and industry placements give you points for PR and make your ACS skills assessment significantly stronger. Finally, invest time in achieving the highest possible PTE or IELTS score.

Of course. You complete your qualifying IT degree, then apply for the Temporary Graduate visa — Subclass 485. Duration depends on your qualification level and study location; a bachelor's from a regional institution can give you up to five years. During your 485 period, you work in your nominated occupation, accumulate points in SkillSelect, and aim for a Subclass 190 (state-sponsored) or 491 (regional) invitation. Once on the 491 for three years and meeting income thresholds, you apply for the 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional). A direct Subclass 189 invite is possible with a high enough points score.

The ACS assessment is absolutely central to the IT migration pathway. For most ICT occupations, you need a positive skills assessment from ACS before you can lodge an EOI in SkillSelect or apply for most state nomination streams. ACS assesses whether your qualifications and experience match an ICT occupation in the ANZSCO system. Prepare by confirming your ANZSCO occupation early, keeping meticulous records of all paid IT work experience — contracts, payslips, references, and a detailed statement of duties. Consider using a Registered Migration Agent to review your application before submission.

Extraordinarily important, and still under-utilised by many international students. Studying outside of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane gives you additional points in the points test. Working regionally on the 485 or 491 accumulates further advantages. The 491 regional visa gives you five years in a designated regional area with a direct path to the 191 permanent visa. Cities like Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, and the Gold Coast often have their own state nomination programs with lower points thresholds. The quality of life, lower costs, and tech sector job opportunities in these cities are excellent.

I see a handful of recurring issues. The first is starting too late — students often only think about migration in their final year. The second is course selection without migration research; completing a qualification not on the relevant skills list is a very costly error. The third — affecting many students — is underestimating English scores. The difference between PTE 65 and PTE 79 can be 20 points in the points test; that gap determines whether you receive an invitation. The fourth is not engaging a Registered Migration Agent early enough.

These are three of our most common student cohorts and the pathways are very achievable. For Indian students, the IT sector is particularly well-matched — there is strong employer recognition of Indian educational backgrounds in technology. The key is often English score and a clean visa history. For Nepalese students, regional study is a genuine advantage — the points boost compensates for a slightly lower profile elsewhere. For Philippine students, excellent communication skills are a major asset — leverage that in leadership and business analysis roles within IT, which have strong occupation demand and clear migration pathways.

It is reshaping everything, and I think it is an exciting time to be an IT student. AI and machine learning roles — ML Engineers, Prompt Engineers, Data Scientists — are seeing explosive demand and are well represented on occupation lists. However, I caution against choosing AI study purely for migration purposes. The field moves quickly and you need genuine technical depth to compete. I see AI augmenting other IT roles rather than replacing them — a cybersecurity professional who understands AI-driven threat detection is more valuable than ever. Develop genuine expertise and stay current with certifications — AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, CompTIA, Cisco.

Treat your time in Australia as a holistic investment — not just in your degree, but in relationships, experience, and community. The students who succeed in securing PR are almost never the ones who studied hard, got their degree, and waited. They are the ones who worked part-time, joined industry associations, attended meetups, connected with alumni, volunteered, took extra certifications, and showed Australian employers what they could contribute. Australia genuinely wants skilled people who invest in the community. Demonstrate that from day one. The PR pathway is real and achievable — but it rewards the proactive.