ACT Matrix (Canberra) December 2025 Invitation Round

The December 2025 Canberra Matrix invitation round indicates continued targeted demand in selected health, education, community services, and essential trade occupations, with several roles invited at comparatively lower Matrix scores when compared to ICT, engineering, and senior management professions.

While overall competition remains high, the data shows that critical service-based occupations continue to attract invitations at more accessible thresholds, particularly for Canberra residents across both the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 pathways.Occupations with Relatively Lower Matrix Cut-Off Scores

Health and Allied Health Occupations

Several healthcare roles were invited with minimum Matrix scores generally ranging between 60-75 points, reflecting sustained workforce demand:

• Registered Nurses

• Midwives

• Medical Laboratory Scientists

• Physiotherapists

• Occupational Therapists

• Psychologists

• Audiologists and Speech Pathologists

• Pharmacists (moderate thresholds relative to profession)

Education and Training Occupations

Teaching and education-related roles continued to be prioritised, with invitations issued at lower to mid-range Matrix scores, particularly for Canberra residents:

• Early Childhood (Pre-primary) Teachers

• Primary School Teachers

• Secondary School Teachers

• Special Education Teachers

• Vocational Education and Polytechnic Teachers

These occupations remain aligned with long-term population growth and public service needs in the ACT.

Community and Social Services

Community-facing roles showed consistent invitation outcomes at comparatively lower cut-off scores:

• Social Workers

• Counsellors

• Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers

• Welfare Support Workers

These occupations continue to be treated as strategically important to the ACT’s social infrastructure.

Selected Trade and Technical Occupations

While trade occupations remain selective, several were invited at lower thresholds relative to professional occupations, particularly for Canberra residents:

• Electricians

• Plumbers

• Carpenters and Joiners

• Bricklayers and Stonemasons

• Automotive Electricians

• Metal Fitters and Machinists

Invitations in these categories strongly favoured applicants with ACT employment and ongoing workforce participation.

Industry Insights and How Future rounds may look like

The December round reinforces that the ACT nomination framework continues to prioritise:

• Essential service delivery roles

• Occupations with demonstrated local workforce shortages

• Applicants already employed and settled in Canberra

Lower Matrix cut-off scores in these occupations do not indicate reduced competition, but rather consistent policy-driven demand.

Based on December outcomes, health, education, community services, and selected trades are likely to remain among the most stable pathways for future Canberra invitation rounds, particularly for onshore applicants with sustained employment.

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.