190NSWAgent
90- Est. Invitations
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Social Worker 272511
MLTSSLVIC 2026–27 priority: Social assistanceAssessed by AASW· Unit group 2725 Social Workers·New to this? Start here
As at November 2026, Social Worker (ANZSCO 272511) is still invited through the subclass 189: the 15 October 2026 round invited it at 80 points, for EOIs with a date of effect up to 3 September 2026 (an estimated 237–259 invitations, 16% of its 1,477 EOIs at 65+). The October 2026 189 pool holds 1,442 EOIs (15 at 85+ points), with 1,938 in 190 and 1,405 in 491. Latest state cut-offs: 190 at 90 points (12 November 2026) and 491 at 85 points (21 May 2026), community reported. Four states list the occupation for 190 or 491. The 189 cut-off ranged 70–85 over the last 6 rounds.
An EOI is ranked by points, then date of effect. 190 and 491 cut-offs (state nomination) are community reported.
189Skilled Independent
Every round80pts
15 Oct · DOE 3 Sept 2026
369–375 visas 2025-26*
190State nominated
3 states list it90pts
12 Nov 2026 · → from 90
118–124 visas 2025-26*
491Regional, state or family
4 states list it85pts
21 May 2026 · ▼ from 90
34–52 visas 2025-26*
186Employer sponsored
EmployerNo points test
485 → work → 482 or 186
26 visas 2024-25
Every pathway at a glance
October 2026 EOI pool. State rows count the 190 and 491 queues together, and one person can hold several EOIs. State scores are community reported.
| Pathway | In queue | At 85+ | Last invited |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189Eligible | 1,442 | 15 | 80 · 15 Oct 2026 |
| NSWopen | 1,127 | 367 | 190 · 90 · 12 Nov 2026 |
| VICopen | 817 | 221 | 190 · VPT 579–625 · 10 Nov 2026 |
| WAopen | 760 | 300 | 190 · 75 · 5 Mar 2026 |
| QLDopen | 391 | 137 | 491 · 85 · 13 Jan 2026 |
| SANot listed | 375 | 101 | 190 · 70 · 1 Dec 2025 |
| ACTNot listed | 220 | 56 | – |
| NTNot listed | 182 | 46 | – |
| TASNot listed | 175 | 49 | 190 · 80 · 19 Dec 2024 |
See who gets nominated → community-reported 190 and 491 invitations
Checking your access…
Where do you sit in the 189 queue?
What this means at your score and date of effect
- 80 or more2,136 EOIs at that score or higher.
- 75Your date of effect decides within the score.
- Below 75Below the recent 189 cut-offs. Check the state lists for nomination.
Subclass 189 wait estimates · October 2026 EOI pool
| 80 | 85 | 90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahead | 116 | 15 | 2 |
| Met the cut-off | 5/6 | 6/6 | 6/6 |
How these figures are worked outmethod and limits
Subclass 189 invitation rounds have paused since 15 October 2026, so a wait estimate can't be reliably projected while rounds are paused. The queue figures above are current; the wait will depend on when rounds resume.
"Met the cut-off" counts how many of the last 6 subclass-189 rounds your points would have been at or above the round's minimum.
Figures describe observed invitation rounds and the current EOI pool — indicative only, not migration advice.
189 rank can be estimated from points and DOE; 190 and state/territory-nominated 491 are selected by each jurisdiction under its own policy and priorities, so a national EOI queue rank doesn't apply.
Will I get a 189 invitation as a Social Worker?
Likely at 80 points or more. Invited in 6 recent 189 rounds.
Last 189 round · 15 October 2026
- Cut-off
- 80 pts
- June: 75, so 5 higher
- Date of effect
- invited at 80 up to here
- Est. invited
- 237–259
- unit group 2725
- Queue invited
- 16%
- 237 of 1,477 at 65+
Cut-off and date of effect: Home Affairs. Invited and queue share: ImmiTrend estimates from the 1 Oct 2026 pool (queue = EOIs at 65+).
All 159 occupations in this round →We predicted 80 for this round. See the scorecard →
189 places this financial year
FY2026-27 · estimated850est. ceiling671est. 189 places412–434est. left after 15 Oct
35–39%
179 to 186 / 190 / 491237–259 invited by 189open
ImmiTrend estimate — official figures not yet published. FY2025-26 official: 1,009 ceiling, 876 remaining · How we estimate · All occupation ceilings →
If a round is heldcut-off by round size, custom number, full prediction row
If 10 invited
85DOE ≤ Oct 26
If 20 invited
80DOE ≤ Sept 26
If 50 invited
80DOE ≤ Sept 26
If 100 invited
80DOE ≤ Oct 26
If 200 invited
75DOE ≤ Dec 25
If 500 invited
75DOE ≤ Sept 26
If 1000 invited
70DOE ≤ Sept 26
Or calculate a custom number
189 prediction — full row
| Last round | Cutoff | Oct 26 | Spots left (FY) | If floor invited | If anchored invited | Active EOIs | At/above | Ceiling remaining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | 80 | 237–259 | 617–639 | 75DOE ≤ Feb 26 | 75DOE ≤ Mar 26 | 1,440 | 116 | 876 |
More 189 chartsqueue age, invitations per round, points gauge
Points reality gaugeyour points against those invited
Point Reality Gauge
- Points are stable. The minimum invited score has remained consistent over recent rounds, though the next round can still move with round size and EOI pool changes.
- Still 15 points above the EOI minimum. Despite current trends, Social Worker remains competitive. Applicants significantly below 80 points are unlikely to receive invitations soon.
- 1 round so far in 2026-27. Social Worker has been invited in 1 invitation round this financial year. The round count alone doesn't indicate future demand or guarantee invitations.
Which state could nominate a Social Worker?
Four states list Social Worker for 2026-27: NSW, VIC, QLD and WA are open.
Program status 2026-27
OpenOnshore onlyOpeningPaused or closedNot listed
New South WalesOpen
190 · since 15 Oct 2026
- This occupation
- Listed for 190 and 491
- 190 + 491 queue
- 1,127 EOIs · 367 at 85+ · most at 80
- Last invited
- 190 at 90 · 12 Nov 2026 (community)
- Next expected
- Rounds through the year
- Places 2026-27
- 190: – places, 11 used · 491: – places, 0 used
- Grants 2024-25
- 24 × 190 · 4 × 491 · 10 × 186 · 64 × 189
- Note
- NSW Skills List rebuilt to 78 unit groups (16 removed, 15 added). NSW doesn't announce round dates. Allocation not yet published.
Sign in to get an alert when NSW invites a Social Worker, with your position, the points distribution and the monthly series.Sign in
Status from state program pages. Queues: SkillSelect, 10/2026. An EOI can nominate several states, so state queues add up to more than the national totals.
All states as a tablestatus, listing, queue, last cut-off, places, grants
| State | Status | Listed | 190 queue | 491 queue | 85+ | Last cut-off | State places 190 / 491 (all occupations) | 190 + 491 grants | State page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| open | 190, 491 | 707 | 420 | 367 | 190 · 90 · 12 Nov 2026 | – / – | 28 | All NSW data | |
| open | 190, 491 | 572 | 245 | 221 | 190 · VPT 579–625 · 10 Nov 2026 | 900 / – | 34 | All VIC data | |
| open | 491 | 222 | 169 | 137 | 491 · 85 · 13 Jan 2026 | – / – | 9 | All QLD data | |
| open · onshore only | Not listed | 218 | 157 | 101 | 190 · 70 · 1 Dec 2025 | – / – | 3 | All SA data | |
| open | 190, 491 | 352 | 408 | 300 | 190 · 75 · 5 Mar 2026 | – / – | 10 | All WA data | |
| open | Not listed | 95 | 80 | 49 | 190 · 80 · 19 Dec 2024 | 1,250 / 800 | 11 | All TAS data | |
| closed | Not listed | 100 | 82 | 46 | – | – / – | 2 | All NT data | |
| open | Not listed | 121 | 99 | 56 | – | – / – | 10 | All ACT data |
Per-state queue chartspoints distribution, queue trend, invited and lodged
Pick a state above to see its three charts
All eight states · 24 charts
Who gets nominatedcommunity-reported 190 and 491 invitations
From 51 community-reported 190 and 491 invitations for Social Worker, the median was 85 points.
Cut-off history
Where it ranks · 189
#7
of 170 occupations invited
▲ Top 4%▼ Falling
#7
This occupation · most invited →least invited
1,318 invites last 2 FY · busiest 8,043 · typical 52
Most consistently invited
invited 4 of 4 rounds
oldest → newest · filled = invited
Year over year
1,059last FY · 3 rounds
259so far · 1 round
▼ −27% per roundRound to round · last 2 FY
104
485
470
259
85757580
▼ Falling · invites per round · number under a bar = 189 cut-off
Minimum points invited, by source
Dashed line = the 65-point pass mark
Round History
Source:
| Date | Subclass | Source | Points | Est. Invitations | Salary | DOE / EOI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Nov 2026 | 190 | NSWAgent | 90 | — | — | — | |
| 10 Nov 2026 | 190 | VICCommunity | 85 | — | — | — | |
| 10 Nov 2026 | 190 | VICCommunity | 75 | — | — | — | |
| 10 Nov 2026 | 190 | VICCommunity | VPT 579 | — | — | — | |
| 10 Nov 2026 | 190 | VICCommunity | VPT 591 | — | — | — | |
| 10 Nov 2026 | 190 | VICCommunity | VPT 592 | — | — | — | |
| 10 Nov 2026 | 190 | VICCommunity | VPT 611 | — | — | — | |
| 10 Nov 2026 | 190 | VICCommunity | VPT 625 | — | — | — |
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- 190VICCommunity85
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·· - 190VICCommunity75
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·· - 190VICCommunityVPT 579
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·· - 190VICCommunityVPT 591
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·· - 190VICCommunityVPT 592
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·· - 190VICCommunityVPT 611
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·· - 190VICCommunityVPT 625
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FederalSkillSelectOfficialState governmentCommunityCrowdsourced
How many Social Worker visas are actually granted?
402 skilled visas for Social Worker in 2024-25, the 36th most of 581 occupations. 2025-26, provisional: 369–375 × 189, 118–124 × 190, 34–52 × 491 (186 and 494 not yet published).
25-26* is provisional: the full year to June 2026 for 189, 190 and 491 from a Home Affairs data release. The official release with every visa is expected in late 2026.
| Visa | Share of total | 2024-25 | 2025-26* | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 402 | — | −18% | ||
67% | 269369–375* | 369–375 | −15% | |
21% | 86118–124* | 118–124 | −39% | |
6% | 26 | — | +30% | |
5% | 2134–52* | 34–52 | — | |
0% | 0 | — | — |
494 includes the closed 187 (peak 7 in 2015-16). 491 includes the closed 489 (peak 46 in 2019-20). — means last year had fewer than 20 grants. Tap a colour to show or hide its line. The grey area is the total.
Show the numbers for every year
| Year | Total | 186 | 190 | 491 | 189 | 494 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 240 | 22 | 28 | 4 | 179 | 7 |
| 2016-17 | 213 | 22 | 34 | 8 | 144 | 5 |
| 2017-18 | 170 | 15 | 54 | 6 | 89 | 6 |
| 2018-19 | 193 | 19 | 61 | 23 | 89 | 1 |
| 2019-20 | 294 | 20 | 167 | 66 | 39 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 275 | 26 | 194 | 48 | 5 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | 449 | 16 | 344 | 81 | 8 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 729 | 84 | 333 | 28 | 284 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 493 | 20 | 141 | 17 | 315 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 402 | 26 | 86 | 21 | 269 | 0 |
| 2025-26* | — | — | 118–124 | 34–52 | 369–375 | — |
Where they were granted
Planned place to live, 2024-25. Coloured by how each state's share of Social Worker 189 grants compares with its usual share of all 189 grants.
- 1VICAbout usual29% · usually 38%77
- 2NSWAbout usual24% · usually 29%64
- 3QLDMore than usual19% · usually 14%51
- 4SAMore than usual19% · usually 6.7%49
- 5WALess than usual5.3% · usually 9.8%14
- 6ACTToo few to saytoo few to compare5
- 7NTToo few to saytoo few to compare4
- 8TASToo few to saytoo few to compare0
- More than usual (1.3× or more)
- About usual
- Less than usual (under 0.75×)
- Too few to say (under 10)
Who was granted
Country of citizenship, 2022-23 to 2024-25 combined.
- 1India19.3%
- 2China17.1%
- 3United Kingdom7.9%
- 4Nepal5.5%
- 5Zimbabwe5.3%
Data: July 2015 to June 2025, main applicants only. Occupation is recorded only for main applicants in the Skill stream, so partner, parent, business and 858 visas can't appear here, and temporary visas such as 482 aren't in this data. Source: Department of Home Affairs, BP0068 (CC BY). The views expressed are those of ImmiTrend and not necessarily those of the Department.
Your next step
Before you can submit an EOI you need a positive skills assessment from AASW, an English test result and at least 65 points. Study and graduate (485) time in Australia count.
Questions
What points do you need for Social Worker subclass 189?
Social Worker last invited (189) 15 October 2026 at 80 points; ranged 70–85 over its last 6 invited rounds. At 80 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 3 September 2026 were invited.
Was I invited in the 15 October 2026 189 round as Social Worker?
In the 15 October 2026 round, Social Worker EOIs at 85 points or more were invited; at 80 points, those with a date of effect on or before 3 September 2026; at 75 or less, none. ImmiTrend estimates 237–259 invitations, 16% of the 1,477 EOIs at 65+ points.
Is the Social Worker subclass 189 cut-off rising or easing?
Flat: across the last 6 189 rounds the Social Worker cut-off ranged 70–85, from 75 (5 September 2024) to 80 (15 October 2026).
Is 85, 90 or 95 points enough to be invited for Social Worker (subclass 189)?
Over Social Worker's last 6 invited 189 rounds (latest 15 October 2026) cut-offs ranged 70–85. Met: 95: 6 of 6, 90: 6 of 6, 85: 6 of 6, 80: 5 of 6, 75: 4 of 6, 70: 1 of 6. At 80 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 3 September 2026 were invited.
What are the latest 190 and 491 cut-offs for Social Worker?
For Social Worker: subclass 190 was last invited at 90 points (12 November 2026). subclass 491 was last invited at 85 points (21 May 2026).
How do I compare to applicants who got invited for Social Worker?
States and territories issue 190 and 491 invitations under their own policies, not national EOI queue order. Check My Score compares your profile with community-reported invited samples for Social Worker; samples may be incomplete.
Which states nominate Social Worker for 190/491?
Social Worker is on the current 190/491 state nomination lists of: NSW, QLD, VIC, WA. State lists and quotas change each program year — check each state's official list.
How many subclass 189 places are likely left this FY2026-27 for Social Worker?
About 412–434 subclass 189 places are estimated left for Social Worker in FY2026-27 after the 15 October 2026 round, of 671 for the year. Home Affairs has not yet published FY2026-27 occupation ceilings, so the places are an ImmiTrend estimate.
How often are Social Worker invitation rounds held?
Subclass 189: 1 federal round so far in FY2026-27 (15 October 2026); Social Worker received invitations in 1 of them. State nominations in FY2026-27: subclass 190 invitations on 3 round dates and subclass 491 on none (NSW, VIC; 75–90 points).
How many Social Worker visas were granted in 2024-25?
402 main applicants: 269 through 189, 86 through 190, 26 through 186 and 21 through 491.
Last updated 12 November 2026Sources:OfficialEstimatedCommunity-reported
EOI snapshot October 2026
Community-reported and estimated figures are indicative and may be incomplete — treat them as a guide, not a guarantee. Official figures come from Home Affairs / SkillSelect.
General information only — not migration advice.
Compiled by ImmiTrend from official SkillSelect data.