This is one of the questions our audience asks most often: when migration discussions refer to a “social worker”, which official occupation title and which ANZSCO code is actually meant? Dr Sirous Ahmadi, Australian migration lawyer and registered migration agent with MARA under number 0854826, answers this question by reference to the text of the legislative instruments and the authoritative skills assessment documents. Below you will find both the precise code and assessing authority, and the dividing line between this occupation and the similar titles that many applicants mistakenly confuse it with.
The short answer
In the context of the Australian subclass 189 visa, “social worker” means Social Worker, ANZSCO 272511 — an occupation listed on the MLTSSL under legislative instrument LIN 19/051, with AASW (the Australian Association of Social Workers) as its skills assessing authority. A professional social work qualification at bachelor or master level, a minimum of 1,000 hours of field education, and the AASW’s own specific English language standard are all required. Being on the list establishes eligibility; it does not guarantee an invitation.
What the law says
The legal basis for the subclass 189 occupation list is a specific legislative instrument. On its page of legislative instruments for the skilled migration program, the Australian Department of Home Affairs states that for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream, as well as for the subclass 491 visa, LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities applies.
That instrument sits under the umbrella of the Migration Regulations: LIN 19/051 was made on 5 March 2019 by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, commenced on 11 March 2019, and repealed the earlier instrument IMMI 18/051. Its consolidated version (Compilation No. 4) has been published with a compilation date of 14 December 2024, incorporating amendments made by the Migration Amendment (Relevant Assessing Authorities and Other Matters) Instrument 2024, and the instrument is made under provisions of the Migration Regulations 1994, including subregulation 1.15I(1) and subregulation 2.26B(1).
The structure of the document itself is equally telling: each occupation mentioned in column 1 of an item of an applicable list is specified, for the purposes of paragraph 1.15I(1)(a) of the Regulations, as a “skilled occupation” for those visas, and the person or body mentioned in column 3 of that same item is specified, for the purposes of subregulation 2.26B(1), as the relevant assessing authority for that occupation. In plain terms: the first column is the occupation title, the second is the ANZSCO code, and the third is the name of the assessing authority — and for a social worker that triad is Social Worker / 272511 / AASW. For ANZSCO 272511 Social Worker, the skills assessing body is the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
The same code is repeated in the Department’s official documents: in the Core Skills Occupation List published on the Department of Home Affairs website, the relevant item is recorded with the code 272511 and the title Social Worker.
The key requirements: from occupation code to AASW assessment
| Element | Exact position |
|---|---|
| Occupation title and code | Social Worker — ANZSCO 272511 (as listed in the Department of Home Affairs occupation list) |
| Skills assessing authority | AASW — Australian Association of Social Workers |
| Legislative instrument governing the 189 | LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities |
| Accepted qualification | Comparability with AASW-accredited programs at the level of a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and a Master of Social Work (Qualifying) — that is, both bachelor and professional master qualifications |
| Specialisation of the field of study | The learning outcomes of the professional social work qualification must be comparable to the learning outcomes of graduates of AASW-accredited programs |
| Field Education | A minimum of 1,000 hours across at least two placements in two different fields of practice, one of which must involve “direct client work”; this requirement increased from 980 hours to 1,000 hours to align with AASW-accredited programs |
| AASW English language standard | Evidence of a high level of English language proficiency in accordance with the AASW’s English language policy; the only accepted test is IELTS Academic, and online IELTS tests are not accepted. In practice, a score of 7 overall and 7 in each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing, speaking) is required |
| Difference from the visa English requirement | Most general skilled migration applicants need only Competent English; social workers need a higher level |
| Subclass 189 points threshold | The subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas are points-tested, and to be invited you must meet or exceed the minimum threshold of 65 points |
An important warning: do not confuse 272511 with similar titles
Loose translations of “social worker” can be misleading, because several other occupation titles are rendered in almost identical terms in everyday language, yet have entirely different codes, assessing authorities and listing status:
- Welfare Worker (272613): this occupation sits on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List, which applies to subclasses 190 and 491 — in other words, the 189 pathway does not run through this title; and its assessing authority is ACWA, whereas Social Worker (272511) is assessed by AASW.
- Community Worker (411711): this occupation sits at ANZSCO skill level 2 and requires a qualification comparable to an AQF Diploma or higher in a highly relevant field, and it is assessed by CWA — not AASW.
- Occupational group 4117 (Welfare Support Workers): titles such as Disabilities Services Officer (411712) and Family Support Worker (411713) fall within this group, and none of them is equivalent to 272511.
The first task for any applicant, therefore, is to settle on the correct occupation code. A skills assessment obtained from the wrong authority will not produce a result that can be used for a subclass 189 visa.
What this means for you
As Dr Sirous Ahmadi explains, the correct answer to this question has three layers. The first is matching your occupational identity: your actual duties must align with the definition of 272511 — a social worker assesses the social needs of individuals, families and groups and assists them to develop and use the skills and resources needed to resolve social problems. The second is building the AASW file: course syllabus and unit outlines, written confirmation from your university of the hours and type of your placements, and early planning for IELTS Academic. The AASW assesses applications on a case-by-case basis against specified criteria — including proof of identity, comparability of the qualification, and supervised field education placements.
The third layer is being realistic about the invitation: the presence of 272511 on the MLTSSL only means that your occupation is “eligible” for the subclass 189 visa; the invitation itself depends on your points score and the prioritisation applied in each invitation round. The 65-point threshold is the entry point to the competition, and the stronger your profile (age, English, assessed work experience, qualifications, partner skills), the better your position in the invitation queue. The good news is that if the 189 does not open up for you in a particular round, the state nomination pathways of the subclass 190 and 491 are also available for this same occupation code, because LIN 19/051 also governs the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas.
One professional point is also worth remembering: ANZSCO codes and occupation lists are periodically reviewed and re-compiled — the current version of LIN 19/051 is Compilation No. 4, with a compilation date of 14 December 2024 — so before taking any step, check the current version of the instrument on legislation.gov.au and the Skilled occupation list page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au as at the date you act. The office of Dr Sirous Ahmadi, registered with MARA (number 0854826), treats exactly this version check and duties-matching exercise as the first step in every skilled case, so that the file is built on solid foundations.
Sources
- Working in Australia legislative instruments — Department of Home Affairs (legislative instruments page for the skilled migration program)
- The Core Skills Occupation List (PDF) — Department of Home Affairs (item 272511 Social Worker)
- Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Relevant Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019 — Federal Register of Legislation (Compilation No. 4, compilation date 14 December 2024)
- SkillSelect — Expression of Interest, Department of Home Affairs (the 65-point threshold)
- International Qualification Recognition — AASW (criteria 3 to 5; 1,000 hours of field education)
- Migration & Eligibility Assessment — AASW (English language policy; IELTS Academic only; update to criterion four)
- ANZSCO 272511: Social Worker — Skills Assessment (AASW)
- Social Worker — MLTSSL 272511 (ANZSCO duties)
- Welfare Worker (ANZSCO 272613) — occupation lists and legislative instruments
- Community & Welfare Worker Skills Assessment (ACWA / AASW)
- ANZSCO 411711 Community Worker and occupational group 4117 Welfare Support Workers
- AASW Assessment and English Requirements for Social Workers (how the AASW English standard differs from Competent English)
- AASW — Social Workers (IELTS Academic score details)
- AASW Skills Assessment — scope of assessment and process
Your social work case begins with the right code
If you hold a social work qualification and you are unsure whether your duties, placement hours and unit outlines genuinely match code 272511 and the AASW criteria, this is precisely the right place to start. In a personal consultation with Dr Sirous Ahmadi, Australian migration lawyer and registered migration agent with MARA (0854826), your documents and background are reviewed, the correct occupation code is settled, any gaps in field education hours or English scores are identified, and you receive a realistic roadmap for the subclass 189 along with the alternative options of the 190 and 491. Please have your academic documents, placement reports and English test results ready, and contact us to arrange a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ANZSCO code for “social worker” for the subclass 189 visa?
The official code is 272511, with the title Social Worker. That same title and code appear in the occupation list published by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, and the occupation lists for the subclass 189 visa (Points-tested stream) are specified under legislative instrument LIN 19/051.
Which body is the skills assessing authority for code 272511?
The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Under the structure of LIN 19/051, the name of the assessing authority for each occupation appears in column 3 of the same item, and for Social Worker 272511 that authority is the AASW.
Is a bachelor qualification essential for an AASW assessment?
No — a professional social work qualification at either bachelor or master level is accepted. The AASW criteria are based on comparability with AASW-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and Master of Social Work (Qualifying) programs.
What is the field education hours requirement?
A minimum of 1,000 hours of field education across at least two placements in two different fields of practice, one of which must involve direct client work. This requirement increased from 980 hours to 1,000 hours to align with AASW-accredited programs.
Is the AASW English requirement the same as the visa English requirement?
No. The English requirement for the subclass 189 visa is Competent English, but the AASW has its own separate and higher English language standard: only IELTS Academic is accepted (online IELTS is not), and in practice a score of 7 overall and 7 in each of the four skills is required.
Does being on the MLTSSL guarantee an invitation for the subclass 189?
No. Having your occupation on the list establishes “eligibility” only. The subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas are points-tested, and you must meet the minimum threshold of 65 points to be invited; the actual invitation depends on your points score and the prioritisation applied in each invitation round.
What is the difference between Social Worker, Welfare Worker and Community Worker?
Welfare Worker, code 272613, sits on the STSOL (for the subclass 190 and 491 visas) and is assessed by ACWA; Community Worker, code 411711, sits at skill level 2 and is assessed by CWA. Neither is equivalent to 272511.
Which version of LIN 19/051 is currently in force?
LIN 19/051 was made on 5 March 2019 and commenced on 11 March 2019; Compilation No. 4, with a compilation date of 14 December 2024, has since been published. Before taking any step, check the current version on legislation.gov.au and the Skilled occupation list page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
This answer reflects the law and policy as verified on October 8, 2026. Immigration rules change frequently — confirm the current position before acting.
Dr. Sirous Ahmadi Registered Migration Agent 0854826
This article is general information only, current at the date shown, and is not legal advice. Do not rely on it for your own situation — immigration law and policy change frequently. Seek advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer about your circumstances.