Shearer (ANZSCO 361211)
Updated
What a Shearer does
Removes wool and hair from sheep, goats, alpacas and other animals.
Key facts
- ANZSCO code
- 361211ANZSCO 2022: 363311
- Skill level
- 3Certificate IV, or Certificate III with on-the-job training
- Skilled lists
- Regional Occupation List (ROL)
- Visas that list it
- 494
- Assessing authority
- VETASSESS
- National shortage
- No shortage
Visa options
Occupation eligibility is one requirement; each visa page links to the rest.
Points-tested
- Subclass 189 Skilled IndependentNot on its occupation listsNot eligible
- Subclass 190 Skilled NominatedNot on its occupation listsNot eligible
- Subclass 491, state or territory nominatedNot on its occupation listsNot eligible
- Subclass 491, family sponsoredNot on its occupation listsNot eligible
Employer-sponsored
- Subclass 482 Skills in Demand, Core Skills streamNot on its occupation listsNot eligible
- Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, Direct Entry streamNot on its occupation listsNot eligible
Main tasks
- selecting and preparing shearing equipment
- catching and positioning animals for shearing
- shearing and removing wool and hair from animals
- identifying contaminated fibre and injured, infected and diseased animals
- treating skin cuts
- returning shorn animals to let-out pens for counting and checking
- inspecting fleece to determine its type according to physical characteristics (staple length and strength, fibre diameter, colour)
- classing wool into lines to meet processors’ requirements and to optimise growers’ returns
- managing wool handling teams
- instructing wool handlers and supervising the picking up, skirting, rolling and pressing of fleeces
- may service, maintain and repair shearing equipment
- may shear stud animals with hand shears or special combs
Shortage by state
- NationalNo shortage
- ACTNo shortage
- NSWNo shortage
- NTNo shortage
- QLDNo shortage
- SANo shortage
- TASNo shortage
- VICNo shortage
- WANo shortage
State and territory nomination
For the 190 and 491, each state and territory also has its own occupation list.
Common questions
What does a Shearer do?
Removes wool and hair from sheep, goats, alpacas and other animals. (ABS ANZSCO description.)
Is Shearer on the skilled occupation list?
Yes. Shearer (ANZSCO 361211) is on the Regional Occupation List (ROL) (lists in force from 14 December 2024). It is listed for the 494 visa.
What is the ANZSCO code for Shearer?
361211. The ANZSCO 2022 code is 363311. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO codes for skilled visas.
How can a Shearer migrate to Australia?
The occupation lists Home Affairs publishes include Shearer for the Subclass 494 visa. Being on a list is one requirement among several; each visa's page links to Home Affairs for the rest.
Who assesses Shearer for an Australian visa?
VETASSESS, the skills assessing authority listed for 361211.
Is Shearer in demand in Australia?
Jobs and Skills Australia rated it "No shortage" nationally in its 2025 Occupation Shortage List, with ratings for each state and territory shown above.