# Social Worker (ANZSCO 272511)

Source: Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect invitation round results; per-occupation invitation counts are ImmiTrend estimates (the Department publishes totals and cut-offs, not per-occupation counts)  
Data as at: 12 November 2026 (EOI pool: October 2026)  
Page: https://immitrend.com.au/occupations/social-worker-272511

## Summary

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.

## Pathways

| Visa | Pathway | Latest cut-off | Source | Status | Grants |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 189 | Skilled Independent | 80 (15 October 2026, DOE 3 September 2026) | official | Every round | 369–375 (2025-26*) |
| 190 | State nominated | 90 (12 November 2026) | community-reported | 3 states list it | 118–124 (2025-26*) |
| 491 | Regional, state or family | 85 (21 May 2026) | community-reported | 4 states list it | 34–52 (2025-26*) |
| 186 | Employer sponsored | No points test | – | Employer | 26 (2024-25) |

## Will I get a 189 invitation as a Social Worker?

Likely at 80 points or more. Social Worker was invited in 6 recent 189 rounds, most recently at 80 on 15 Oct 2026.

### Last 189 round (15 October 2026)

| Cut-off | Date of effect | Est. invited | Queue invited |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 80 | on or before 3 September 2026 | 237–259 | 16% (237 of 1,477 EOIs at 65+) |

Cut-off and date of effect: Home Affairs. Invitations and queue share: ImmiTrend estimates from the 1 October 2026 EOI pool.

ImmiTrend's frozen prediction for this round was 80 points; every occupation's prediction and result: https://immitrend.com.au/189-prediction/2026-10-15.

Next 189 round: date not announced; forecast pending.

## Which state could nominate a Social Worker?

Four states list Social Worker for 2026-27: NSW, VIC, QLD and WA are open.

## All states as a table

| State | Status | Listed | 190 queue | 491 queue | 85+ | Last cut-off | State places 190 / 491 (all occupations) | 190 + 491 grants |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NSW New South Wales | open | 190, 491 | 707 | 420 | 367 | 190 · 90 · 12 November 2026 | – / – | 28 |
| VIC Victoria | open | 190, 491 | 572 | 245 | 221 | 190 · VPT 579–625 · 10 November 2026 | 900 / – | 34 |
| QLD Queensland | open | 491 | 222 | 169 | 137 | 491 · 85 · 13 January 2026 | – / – | 9 |
| SA South Australia | open · onshore only | Not listed | 218 | 157 | 101 | 190 · 70 · 1 December 2025 | – / – | 3 |
| WA Western Australia | open | 190, 491 | 352 | 408 | 300 | 190 · 75 · 5 March 2026 | – / – | 10 |
| TAS Tasmania | open | Not listed | 95 | 80 | 49 | 190 · 80 · 19 December 2024 | 1,250 / 800 | 11 |
| NT Northern Territory | closed | Not listed | 100 | 82 | 46 | – | – / – | 2 |
| ACT Australian Capital Territory | open | Not listed | 121 | 99 | 56 | – | – / – | 10 |

## How many Social Worker visas are actually granted?

2025-26, provisional: 369–375 × 189, 118–124 × 190, 34–52 × 491 (186 and 494 not yet published). 402 skilled visas for Social Worker in 2024-25, the 36th most of 581 occupations: 269 × 189 (-15%), 86 × 190 (-39%), 26 × 186 (+30%), 21 × 491.

| Visa | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Change | 2025-26* |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 186 | 20 | 26 | +30% | – |
| 190 | 141 | 86 | -39% | 118–124 |
| 491 | 17 | 21 | – | 34–52 |
| 189 | 315 | 269 | -15% | 369–375 |
| 494 | 0 | 0 | – | – |

## Cut-off history

### 189 rounds, latest 8

Where it ranks (last 2 FY): #7 of 170 occupations by 189 invitations (top 4%); invited in 4 of 4 rounds; invitations per round −27% this FY so far (259 in 1 round) against last FY (1,059 in 3 rounds).

| Date | Min. points | Date of effect | Est. invited | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 15 October 2026 | 80 | 3 September 2026 | 237–259 | official |
| 4 June 2026 | 75 | – | 404–470 | official |
| 13 November 2025 | 75 | – | 413–485 | official |
| 21 August 2025 | 85 | – | 88–104 | official |
| 7 November 2024 | 70 | – | 203–323 | official |
| 5 September 2024 | 75 | – | 136–165 | official |
| 13 June 2024 | 85 | – | 22–27 | official |
| 18 December 2023 | 65 | – | – | official |

### State rounds, latest 8

| Date | Subclass | State | Min. points | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 12 November 2026 | 190 | NSW | 90 | community-reported |
| 10 November 2026 | 190 | VIC | 85 | community-reported |
| 21 October 2026 | 190 | NSW | 90 | community-reported |
| 21 May 2026 | 491 | NSW | 85 | community-reported |
| 30 April 2026 | 491 | NSW | 90 | community-reported |
| 16 April 2026 | 190 | NSW | 90 | community-reported |
| 5 March 2026 | 190 | WA | 75 | official |
| 4 March 2026 | 190 | NSW | 85 | community-reported |

Victoria 10 November 2026 round: 5 reported invitees in this occupation, VPT 579–625 (community-reported, not a cut-off).

## Frequently asked 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.

## Sources

- Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect invitation round results (189 cut-offs)
- Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect EOI data dashboard (EOI pool)
- State and territory nomination program pages (lists, program status, places)
- Department of Home Affairs — BP0068 visa grants by occupation (CC BY 4.0)
- 190 and 491 cut-offs are reported by ImmiTrend users unless marked official

Figures are from the Department of Home Affairs' SkillSelect EOI data dashboard and invitation round results, compiled by ImmiTrend (CC BY 4.0: cite ImmiTrend and link to the page).