The Critical Skills List was previously revised and updated every 4 years. This process was primarily managed by the Department of Higher Education and Training. The job market is however dynamic and typically by the time a new Critical Skills List was published there would be a shortage of other occupations.

The Minister of Home Affairs has now announced that the process as undertaken by the Department of Higher Education and Training to update the Critical Skills List every 4 years will no longer be followed. The Minister of Home Affairs will now make revisions to the Critical Skills List as and when required.

These revisions will be made upon representations to the Minister by the organisation representing a particular industry, and provided that they can provide a compelling case that there is a shortage of a particular occupation then the Minister may add that occupation to the Critical Skills List immediately.