The Warrnambool City Council (Great South Coast) RCB assesses applications that have been lodged with the Department of Home Affairs (as indicated on the Form 1404). For all Employer Nominations under the SESR - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) 494 visa, please refer to the assessment checklist and submit ALL documents listed.
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) (SESR visa) enables Australian employers in areas specified by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs in a Legislation Instrument to sponsor (nominate) skilled overseas workers. This is to assist employers in regional and low population growth areas of Australia where they have been unable to fill vacant positions with Australian citizens or permanent residents living in or wishing to move to the regional area where the nominated position is located.
For more information on the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) visit the department website https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skille...
The skilled occupation you wish to sponsor must also be listed on either the DoHA Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or Medium Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
(list of eligible occupations) – please see: http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessment-and-asses...
We would strongly recommend that if you feel you need assistance in negotiating the new visa application process, you engage the services of a registered migration agent or migration lawyer.
A cost-recovery fee of $400 (plus GST) is payable for Regional Certifying Body (RCB) Employer Nomination assessments for both Visa nominations.
Note: Department of Home Affairs fees for employers lodging an RCB Nomination are $3,000 (as of Oct 2020) payable at the point of application through the employers ImmiAccount.
All employer nominators or their agents are required to download, complete and return the checklist (link above) along with hard copies of all documents.

For each employer nomination under the SESR (provisional) 494 visa we require complete documentation as it will be submitted to the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA), including a statement as to the "need for an additional paid employee".
As a minimum we would request:
- Printout of the online DoHA employer nomination
- Evidence of either your approval from the DoHa as a standard business sponsor OR you have already entered into a Labour Agreement that authorises nominations for a SESR visa
- DoHA Form 1404 advice (prepopulated)
- Position Description
- Contract of Employment
- Organisation Structure Chart
- Statement of need (as above)
- Proof of labour market testing
- Business ABN/ACN
- Financial Statements
Hard-copy Employer Nomination submissions should be sent to:
We have a turn-around time of 10 working days, assuming your documentation meets our request standard.
Please Note: Regional Certifying Bodies (RCBs) only provide advice to the Department of Home Affairs. RCBs make no final decisions and neither approve nor refuse SESR employer nominations. Obtaining positive RCB advice does not automatically guarantee that the SESR employer nomination will also be approved by the Department of Home Affairs. If the SESR employer nomination is not approved by the Department, contacting the RCB is not the appropriate pathway to seek a review of the Department’s decision. In case of a refusal decision by the Department of Home Affairs, the Department will provide the nominating employer or their agent with advice in relation to any appeal rights they may have.
Employers and visa applicants can contact the Department in the following ways:
- contacting the General Enquiries Helpline on 13 18 81 (Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm)
- visit: http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/contact.