Welfare and community workers are assessed by ACWA; social workers by AASW. Here's which authority covers your occupation, the evidence required, fees and timelines.
A positive skills assessment lets you claim your occupation for a points-tested visa such as the 189, 190 or 491. Which body assesses you depends on the exact occupation:
Both assess your qualification, English, relevant experience and currency of practice. Choosing the occupation that genuinely matches your duties is the most important first step.
Official information: ACWA — migrants and AASW — migration assessment.
| ANZSCO | Occupation | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| 272613 | Welfare Worker | ACWA |
| 411711 | Community Worker | ACWA |
| 423111 | Aged or Disabled Carer | ACWA |
| 272511 | Social Worker | AASW |
Confirm your code and authority with our ANZSCO occupation search.
| Assessment | Authority | Fee / timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Skills assessment (general) | ACWA | $965 · ~12 weeks |
| Aged or Disabled Carer | ACWA | $595 · ~12 weeks |
| Social work qualification | AASW | See AASW schedule · ~12–16 weeks |
ACWA fees are paid at submission (Visa/Mastercard) and are non-refundable. Confirm current fees on the ACWA and AASW fees pages.
ACWA assesses Welfare Worker (272613), Community Worker (411711) and related care roles. Social Workers (272511) are assessed by AASW.
AUD $965 for general skilled migration, or $595 for an Aged or Disabled Carer assessment. Paid at submission and non-refundable; processing ~12 weeks.
Criteria that may include your qualification (often AQF level 5–7 depending on occupation), English, relevant industry experience and currency of practice.
AASW advises allowing approximately 12–16 weeks once your application is ready for assessment.
The general rules are above. These next calls decide your outcome — and they need your documents to answer. Guess wrong and it can cost months and fees:
Last reviewed: June 2026 — authority rules and fees change; we confirm the current position for your case.
A social-work-qualified applicant lodged with ACWA instead of AASW; the application didn't fit and time was lost. Confirming the authority and occupation first prevents the detour.
Illustrative only; outcomes depend on your individual circumstances.
Book a confidential consultation with a registered migration agent. We'll confirm whether ACWA or AASW assesses you, your English target, and the evidence that proves your experience and currency.