ACT Invitation Round May 2026: Cut-off points, niche state specific occupations and Trade

The Australian Capital Territory's most recent Canberra Matrix invitation round issued 6 May 2026 contains something the mainstream migration commentary tends to overlook: a large cohort of healthcare, teaching and allied health occupations being invited at the lowest cut-off scores on the entire ACT occupation list.

If you are working onshore in one of these fields, this is worth reading carefully.

A Tightening Year With a Wide-Open Door for the Right Occupations

The 6 May 2026 Canberra Matrix round issued 306 total invitations across Subclass 190 and 491 pathways, covering Canberra residents, overseas applicants, and the Doctorate Streamlined Pathway. With the 2025-26 ACT allocation nearly exhausted, this was effectively the final substantive round of the program year.

While ICT professionals and accountants are competing at Canberra Matrix scores well above 100, a specific group of occupations; overwhelmingly health, allied health, and teaching are being invited at 60 points for the Subclass 491 and 65 points for the Subclass 190. Consistently. Round after round. Because the ACT genuinely cannot fill these roles.

The May 2026 Onshore Cut-Offs: Who Got In at 60-65 Points

The following occupations were invited at the minimum Canberra Matrix scores for onshore (Canberra resident) applicants in the May 2026 round. These figures come directly from the ACT Government's published invitation round data.

Invited at 60 (Subclass 491) / 65 (Subclass 190)

Health & Medical

Occupation	491 Cut-off	190 Cut-off
Ambulance Officers and Paramedics	60	65
Anaesthetists	60	65
Dental Hygienists, Technicians and Therapists	60	65
Dental Practitioners	60	65
General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers	60	65
Medical Imaging Professionals	60	65
Medical Laboratory Scientists	60	65
Midwives	60	65
Nurse Educators and Researchers	60	65
Nurse Managers	60	65
Occupational Therapists	60	65
Optometrists and Orthoptists	60	65
Other Medical Practitioners	60	65
Podiatrists	60	65
Psychiatrists	60	65
Psychologists	60	65
Social Workers	60	65
Specialist Physicians	60	65
Surgeons	60	65
Physiotherapists	60	65*

Allied Health & Community

Occupation	491 Cut-off	190 Cut-off
Audiologists and Speech Pathologists/Therapists	60	65
Chiropractors and Osteopaths	60	65
Complementary Health Therapists	60	65
Health and Welfare Services Managers	60	65
Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals	60	65

Teaching & Education

Occupation	491 Cut-off	190 Cut-off
Child Care Centre Managers	60	65
Middle School / Intermediate School Teachers	60	65
Primary School Teachers	60	70
Secondary School Teachers	60	75
Special Education Teachers	60	65

Invited at 65 (Subclass 491)

Occupation	491 Cut-off	190 Cut-off
Nutrition Professionals	65	65
Other Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals	65	75

These cut-off scores reflect the minimum Matrix score at which invitations were issued in this round. They are not guaranteed thresholds for future rounds.

What 60 Points Actually Means And Why It Matters

The Canberra Matrix is not the same as the federal SkillSelect points test. It is ACT's own scoring system, designed to assess commitment to the territory as well as skills.

A score of 60 on the Canberra Matrix is achievable for many working professionals currently living and employed in Canberra. The Matrix rewards ACT employment, ACT residence duration, skills assessment, English proficiency, and qualifications. For someone already working full-time in Canberra in one of the above occupations, reaching 60 is a realistic not aspirational target.

The critical implication: if you hold one of these occupations, work in Canberra, and have not yet assessed your Matrix score, you may be closer to an invitation than you realise.

Why These Occupations? The ACT's Structural Workforce Reality

This is not a temporary blip. Review the historical cut-off data across the past 18 months and these occupations appear at 60-65 points, consistently, round after round. That stability reflects something structural: the ACT is short of healthcare and education professionals, and has been for years.

The ACT Government's own workforce planning documents are explicit. Canberra's population is projected to reach 500,000 by 2030, driving sustained demand for GPs, specialists, allied health practitioners, nurses, and school teachers , particularly in growth corridors like Gungahlin, Molonglo Valley, and Greenway. The ACT's commitment to universal childcare and expanded early education further amplifies demand for child care managers and early childhood professionals. The ACT's updated migration occupation framework is specifically designed to address ongoing labour shortages and support Canberra's economic growth priorities, with healthcare, education, and construction explicitly prioritised.

This aligns directly with federal government policy. The 2026-27 Federal Budget, handed down 12 May 2026, reaffirmed Australia's permanent migration program at 185,000 places with more than 70% allocated to the skills stream, and announced $85.2 million for faster trade and qualification recognition - a clear signal that workforce shortages in priority sectors will continue to shape migration settings.

The 2026-27 Policy Shift: Act Before the Rules Change

Here is the policy context that every onshore skilled migrant needs to understand right now.

The May 2026 Federal Budget confirmed the most significant redesign of Australia's skilled migration points test since 2012, with consultation opening in June 2026, draft legislation expected by December 2026, and implementation flagged from 2027.

The reforms are focused on elements that indicate long-term economic success, including age redistribution favouring the 25–32 cohort, and a stronger emphasis on English proficiency — with Proficient English potentially becoming the new baseline for many skilled streams.

Critically: Expressions of Interest that have been lodged but not yet invited at the time the new test commences are likely to be re-scored under the new matrix. If you are sitting in the SkillSelect pool, this is not the moment to wait.

The ACT's Subclass 190 nomination continues to carry a 5-point federal bonus. In a reformed points landscape where margins increasingly matter, that state nomination could be decisive.

Why Canberra, Not Just Why Migration

Canberra is routinely underestimated as a destination. That is a strategic error for health and education professionals. The ACT offers among the highest public sector wages in Australia for these roles, a compact and highly liveable city, some of the country's best schools, and commute times that Sydney and Melbourne cannot touch. Given the speculation surrounding the overhaul of the points system, it is important to note that ACT matrix system is different compared to other states and remains advantageous for applicants with skilled partners and the ones aged above 30. For families, the quality-of-life calculation in Canberra is genuinely compelling. For professionals building a career in health or education, the territory's growth trajectory means job security and career progression that is real, not speculative.

Reach out before the next invitation date to allow time for any profile improvements or, to explore new pathway. To start a conversation, just say "Hi" (sms/WhatsApp: +61410478759)

At Newsted, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.