Allied Health Workers in Australia: Which State Needs You Most in 2026?

The Allied Health Shortage: Why 2026 Is a Critical Window

Australia's Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) Occupation Shortage List confirms that allied health roles - particularly physiotherapists (ANZSCO 252511), occupational therapists (ANZSCO 252411), and medical diagnostic radiographers (ANZSCO 251211) - remain in structural shortage across the country. With an ageing population, expanded NDIS demand, and regional healthcare gaps widening, state governments are actively competing for qualified practitioners.

For skilled migration purposes, all three professions sit on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), making them eligible for the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (Skilled Nominated), and 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visa pathways. This is a significant advantage - many occupations are restricted to regional or temporary pathways only.

Understanding Your Visa Options

Before diving into state comparisons, let's map the three key pathways for allied health professionals:

State-by-State: Where Allied Health Is Most In-Demand

The analysis below is based on Digest #007 occupation intelligence (week ending 5 April 2026) and current state portal data. Always confirm current occupation list status directly with each state migration portal before lodging.

🏆 South Australia (SA) - Best for Radiographers, Strong for All Allied Health

South Australia is the standout state for allied health migration in 2026. The Radiographer (ANZSCO 251211) shortage in SA is acute - SA Health facilities across the metropolitan and regional network are critically understaffed. Both 190 and 491 invitations are being issued, though the 190 programme is approaching its annual allocation limit.

What makes SA attractive:

• Monthly invitation rounds with clear timelines
• Multiple application streams: offshore applicants, SA-employed, and high-performing graduates
• Allied health professionals specifically prioritised under the SA Healthcare stream
• 491 remains strong even if 190 closes early

ANZSCO codes confirmed on SA occupation lists (verify at migration.sa.gov.au):

• Physiotherapist: 252511 ✅
• Occupational Therapist: 252411 ✅
• Medical Diagnostic Radiographer: 251211 ✅

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🥈 Tasmania (TAS) - Best for Physiotherapists

Tasmania consistently prioritises Physiotherapists (ANZSCO 252511) as a high-demand health profession. With an ageing rural population and limited local training capacity, Tasmania relies heavily on skilled migration to sustain regional allied health services.

Important considerations for TAS:

• 190 visa: Currently paused for non-Gold Pass holders. The Award Stream (academic excellence) and Gold Pass pathways remain available, but are highly selective.
• 491 visa: Actively issuing invitations, with a cutoff reported at approximately 301 points in recent rounds. This is high - you will need excellent English, solid work experience, and ideally an age advantage.
• A job offer from a Tasmanian employer significantly strengthens your 491 case and may provide additional pathway advantages.
• All applicants must demonstrate genuine intent to live and work in Tasmania.

Key opportunity for Physios: If you can secure a Tasmanian employer willing to support your 491 application, the pathway to permanent residency via the Subclass 191 transition visa (after 3 years) is well-established.

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🥉 Queensland (QLD) - Allied Health With Regional Upside

Queensland offers a more accessible pathway for offshore allied health professionals than either SA or TAS. QLD's 190 and 491 programmes accept applications from practitioners outside Australia, provided they meet the following:

• Minimum 1 year of skilled employment in their nominated occupation
• Currently employed in their occupation at the time of invitation
• Meeting QLD's English language requirements (often above the federal competent minimum)

Why QLD now? Queensland's ageing population infrastructure, growing regional healthcare network, and the upcoming 2032 Olympics healthcare build-up create a sustained multi-year demand for allied health workers. OTs in particular are in strong demand through the expanded NDIS service network in South-East Queensland.

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Other States at a Glance

Your Migration Roadmap: Step by Step

Here's the recommended sequence for internationally qualified allied health professionals:

1. Check ANZSCO eligibility - Search your occupation code to confirm which skill list your role sits on and which visas are accessible.
2. Begin skills assessment early - APC, OTC, and ASMIRT assessments are not fast. Allow 3-6 months minimum. Start this process before lodging your EOI.
3. Begin AHPRA registration in parallel - Register with the relevant National Board (Physiotherapy Board, Occupational Therapy Board, or Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia) as early as possible. General registration requires evidence of English, qualifications, criminal history, and professional indemnity insurance.
4. Calculate your points - Use our GSM Points Calculator (linked above) to tally your age, English, experience, and education scores to determine whether 189, 190, or 491 is your primary target.
5. Target your state(s) - Based on this guide, prioritise SA (radiographers and all allied health - act now), TAS (physiotherapists - explore employer routes), or QLD (offshore applicants - strong programme).
6. Lodge your EOI in SkillSelect with the correct state preference(s) indicated.
7. Apply directly to state migration portals where required (SA, TAS, QLD each have separate application processes beyond SkillSelect).

How First Migration Can Help

At First Migration Service Centre, our registered migration agents specialise in healthcare and allied health migration pathways. We understand the dual complexity of skills assessments, AHPRA registration timelines, and state nomination strategy - and we help clients navigate all three simultaneously to minimise delays.

For a broader comparison of all states (not just allied health occupations), see our State Nomination Comparison Guide 2026 for the full picture across all professions and states.

State nomination requirements and occupation lists are subject to change without notice. Please confirm current availability directly with each state migration portal before applying. Fees are current as of March 2026 and are subject to change; the next fee adjustment is expected on 1 July 2026.

Ready to identify your best state and pathway? Submit a free visa assessment and our migration agents will review your profile, skills assessment status, and points score to map the fastest route to Australian permanent residency.