NSW Releases 2025–29 Five-Year Higher Education Reform Plan

Recently, New South Wales (NSW) released its 2025–29 Five-Year Higher Education Reform Plan, which has attracted widespread attention. This plan not only outlines the future development direction of the state’s higher education system over the next five years, but also has far-reaching implications for international students’ study choices and future migration prospects.

1. Key Points of the Plan and Its Migration Relevance #block0

Seven Priority Sectors Highlighted:
The plan clearly identifies seven critical sectors that are currently and will continue to be of strategic importance in NSW: health, design, engineering, science, transport, education, and law. From a migration lawyer’s perspective, government recognition of shortage areas often signals a favourable migration policy shift. Currently, international students already help address workforce gaps in these sectors — making up 63% in IT, 52% in engineering, 32% in architecture, 16% in health, and 14% in education. This not only reflects the vital role international students play in NSW’s workforce composition but also suggests that future migration policies may further relax in these areas to attract skilled professionals to settle in the state.

Potential Migration Policy Adjustments:
To further increase the talent supply in these sectors, NSW is likely to adjust its migration policies accordingly. Although not all of these seven sectors are currently included in the 2024–25 NSW skilled occupation list, the reform plan strongly indicates they may be added in the near future. Migration lawyers advising clients on migration pathways need to stay alert to such shifts. For instance, for clients choosing a study major with migration in mind, particularly in NSW, selecting a field aligned with these seven key industries could provide future advantages — such as priority processing or reduced thresholds for migration eligibility.

2. Impacts on Different Client Groups

Students Planning to Study in NSW:
For students considering studying in Australia — particularly in NSW — this reform plan serves as a guiding light for course selection. From a migration standpoint, choosing to study in one of the seven priority sectors (health, design, engineering, science, transport, education, and law) will likely open up greater migration opportunities in the coming five years. Migration lawyers recommend these clients carefully consider their own interests and career goals while keeping a close eye on NSW migration policy changes. For example, before starting their course, students can explore the migration requirements tied to their chosen field, such as English proficiency or work experience, and prepare accordingly during their studies.

Students Currently Studying in Relevant Fields in NSW:
For those already enrolled in related programs in NSW, it’s important to closely follow the implementation of the reform plan and plan their career development early. Migration lawyers advise these students to actively participate in university-industry partnership programs and internships to boost their employability and strengthen their migration prospects. Future migration policies may increasingly favour candidates with practical work experience. For example, students studying engineering can use holiday breaks to intern with relevant companies, gaining experience that not only meets potential work experience requirements but also contributes to a stronger skills assessment score.

Overseas Professionals Working in the Seven Key Industries:
For professionals already working in one of the seven key sectors — health, design, engineering, science, transport, education, or law — the NSW reform plan also presents new opportunities. If they are considering migrating to NSW, migration lawyers suggest assessing their eligibility under future potential policy changes. For example, a nurse employed in the health sector may benefit from a relaxed policy if their employer can provide support and they meet required work experience and language criteria. Under future policy shifts favouring critical industries, they may be well-placed to migrate through skilled migration or employer sponsorship programs.

3. Migration Strategy Recommendations

Early Planning:
Given the potential for NSW’s migration policies to evolve under the reform plan, migration lawyers strongly advise clients to plan their migration journey early. Whether it’s choosing the right course, gaining relevant work experience, or improving language skills, all aspects should be considered in advance. For instance, students planning to migrate after studying in Australia can start researching NSW education and migration policies as early as high school to identify the most suitable study path and avoid being caught out by sudden policy changes.

Stay Up-to-Date with Policy Changes:
Migration lawyers must stay across every shift in NSW migration policies and communicate them promptly to clients. At the same time, clients are encouraged to stay informed by following official NSW government websites, Department of Home Affairs updates, and insights from professional migration agents. Any change in areas such as skilled migration invitation rounds or updates to occupation lists can directly impact an application — staying informed is key to making timely and strategic decisions.

Optimise Application Documents:
The quality of documentation is critical in migration applications. Migration lawyers must help clients refine their documents to highlight strengths in skills, work experience, and qualifications. For example, skilled migration applicants should present detailed, accurate evidence of their job responsibilities, outcomes, and how closely their experience aligns with their nominated occupation — increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.

NSW’s 2025–29 Five-Year Higher Education Reform Plan offers new opportunities for those aspiring to migrate. As migration lawyers, we must analyse this plan in depth to provide clients with professional and accurate advice, helping them achieve their migration goals. At the same time, clients themselves must also be proactive — staying up-to-date, planning ahead, and remaining responsive to changes — in order to seize opportunities in an evolving migration landscape.

If you have any questions about Australian visa applications or need professional assistance, feel free to contact us at Riverwood Migration. We specialise in providing transparent, professional migration services, helping you successfully obtain visas and achieve your goal of moving to Australia.