From trial to long-term hire: how a telecommunications linesworker helped an engineering firm fill a critical gap

An engineering company in Australia came to us facing a common challenge—staff shortages and difficulty finding skilled workers locally, particularly in the telecommunications field. They had identified a candidate in the Philippines who seemed promising, but they weren’t sure if bringing someone in from overseas would work out.

That’s where we stepped in.

To help the business assess the worker’s suitability without a long-term commitment, we recommended applying for a Subclass 400 short stay specialist visa. This visa allowed the telecommunications linesworker to come to Australia for a short period and demonstrate his skills on the job.

The result? He exceeded expectations. The employer was impressed not only by his technical ability but also by how quickly he adapted to the work environment.

With the trial period a success, we moved on to the next step: securing a Subclass 482 temporary skill shortage visa. This allowed the employee to continue working in Australia for another two years—helping the company meet critical project demands while filling a gap in their workforce.

This case highlights how short-term visa options can be a practical way for businesses to trial international talent before committing to a longer-term arrangement. Following a successful period on the 482 visa, he is now applying for permanent residency through the Subclass 186 visa under the Temporary Residence Transition stream.

If your business is struggling to find the right skills locally, talk to us at AustraliaMigrate—we’ll help you explore visa options that work for you and your business needs.