This is a worked case study for a Health Promotion Officer migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 251911. Pathways: Subclass 190, Subclass 491 → 191, Subclass 186 Direct Entry, Subclass 494 → 191, and Subclass 482.
For visa-by-visa context, see the 251911 pathway guide and the VETASSESS skills assessment guide.
The case profile
Anonymised composite. 32-year-old Senior Health Promotion Officer, BSc Public Health + MPH. 9 years professional career: 4 years council health promotion (UK / Irish local authority), 3 years NGO programme manager (UK / Irish national charity), 2 years senior public health officer at major UK / Irish local authority. PTE 79+. Family: spouse + one child under 18.
Pathway A — Subclass 190
Fees (primary + spouse + 1 child)
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| VETASSESS skills assessment | 1,096 |
| 190 visa fees (family of 3) | 8,560 |
| State nomination fee | 200-800 |
| Health, police, English | 1,050 |
| Total applicant-side | ~10,906 - 11,506 |
Total wall-clock time: 12 to 24 months end-to-end.
Pathway B — Subclass 491
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| VETASSESS skills assessment | 1,096 |
| 491 visa fees (family of 3) | 8,560 |
| State / regional nomination fee | 0-800 |
| Health, police, English | 1,050 |
| Then 191 visa fees (after 3+ years) | 1,575 |
| Total applicant-side | ~12,281 - 13,081 |
Pathway C — Subclass 186 Direct Entry
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| VETASSESS skills assessment | 1,096 |
| 186 visa fees (family of 3) | 8,595 |
| Health, police, English | 1,050 |
| Total applicant-side | ~10,741 |
Employer SAF levy: AUD 5,000 (large business — state DoH / large NGO / health insurer) or AUD 3,000 (small business). Total wall-clock time: 6 to 18 months.
Pathway D — Subclass 494 / 482
Regional 494 via regional health services / regional council teams. 482 4-year stream available. Total wall-clock time: ~60 months for 494; 30-36 months for 482 → 186 TRT.
Side-by-side
| Path | Applicant cost | Employer cost | Wall-clock to PR | VETASSESS required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 190 (state-nominated) | AUD ~11,200 | AUD 0 | 12-24 months | Yes |
| 491 → 191 | AUD ~12,500 | AUD 0 | ~60 months | Yes |
| 186 Direct Entry | AUD ~10,741 | AUD 3,540-5,540 | 6-18 months | Yes |
| 494 → 191 | AUD ~12,281 | AUD 6,000-25,540 | ~60 months | Yes |
| 482 → 186 TRT | AUD ~17,670 | AUD 9,000-25,000+ | 30-36 months | Yes (at 186 stage if DE) |
Things that frequently surprise people
State DoH public health units are major employers. Health promotion teams across NSW Health, Vic Health, QLD Health, SA Health, etc. Substantial sustained programmes.
VicHealth, Healthway WA, Wellbeing SA. Dedicated state-funded health promotion foundations — significant career options.
Cancer Council, Heart Foundation, Diabetes Australia. National NGO sponsors with state arms — substantial sponsorship pipeline for senior practitioners.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. Strong cultural competency expected — non-Indigenous candidates can apply for non-Aboriginal-specific roles, but cultural awareness training is mandatory.
Private health insurers. Bupa, HCF, Medibank, NIB, AHM operate health and wellness teams — often hire international health promoters.
Code matters. ANZSCO 251911 = health promotion. 251112 = nutritionist. 251311 = EHO. 251999 = NEC residual. Different scopes.
Health examinations expire after 12 months. If your visa takes longer than 12 months to grant, expect to redo them.
Tax residency starts on arrival. The Australian tax year runs 1 July to 30 June. See ATO residency rules before signing.
MARA registration is mandatory for paid migration assistance. Verify any agent at the MARA register.
Tools
- Visa fee calculator — model 190, 491, 186, 494, or 482 fees
- Document checklist — VETASSESS evidence pack
- ANZSCO search — confirm 251911 vs 251112 / 251311 / 251999
- Eligibility wizard
- Invitation rounds tracker — for 190 / 491 round cut-offs
Where to verify the numbers
- Home Affairs visa pricing page
- VETASSESS
- Australian Health Promotion Association
- IUHPE
- Office of MARA
- ATO
Next step
Want to model 190 vs 491 vs 186 vs 494 vs 482 against your health promotion profile? Book a 30-minute free strategy call.