Program Director (Television or Radio) Visa Pathway to Australia: Complete 2026 Guide
Updated: 16 June 2026
Australia classifies Program Director (Television or Radio) under ANZSCO 212315, a Skill Level 1 occupation assessed by VETASSESS. The code appears on both the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), opening subclass 190, 491, 482 and 186 visas. Typical 2026 salaries run AUD $90,000-$175,000 depending on market size and seniority. The role plans and directs the content and scheduling of broadcast programming.
Quick Facts: Program Director (Television or Radio) Pathway
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| ANZSCO Code | 212315 (Program Director, Television or Radio) |
| Skill Level | 1 (Bachelor degree or higher, or five years of relevant experience) |
| Skills Assessment | VETASSESS (Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services) |
| Occupation List | CSOL and STSOL |
| Visa Options | 190, 491, 482, 186 |
| Demand Level | Moderate — a small, specialised broadcast labour market |
| Salary Range | AUD $90,000-$175,000 (Indeed, SalaryExpert, 2026) |
| Typical 189 Score | Not applicable — occupation is not on the 189 list |
| Key Challenge | A small field with few employers and few annual openings |
What a Program Director Does in Australia
A Program Director plans, schedules and directs the programming output of a television or radio station. The role decides what airs and when, briefs presenters and guests, confers with technical and production staff, monitors news and current-affairs coverage, and shapes the overall sound or look of the channel. On the radio side, the program director controls the music format, the on-air talent roster and the daypart structure. On television, the role oversees the schedule, commissioning input and on-air presentation.
The Australian broadcast sector is concentrated and competitive. The major employers are the national broadcasters ABC and SBS, the commercial television networks Seven, Nine and Ten, and the large radio groups such as Australian Radio Network and Southern Cross Austereo. Most senior roles sit in Sydney and Melbourne, with regional networks providing a thinner spread of positions across the states. Streaming and digital audio have reshaped the work, and program directors increasingly manage content across linear and on-demand platforms at once.
This is a small labour market. Jobs and Skills Australia treats program directors as part of a narrow broadcast occupation group, and the number of openings each year is limited. That shapes the migration reality: the points-tested independent visa is closed, and most applicants will move through state nomination or an employer offer.
ANZSCO Code 212315 Explained
ANZSCO 212315 sits inside the 2123 "Media Professionals" minor group, alongside related broadcast and journalism roles. The indicative tasks include planning and organising program preparation, briefing guests and presenters, conferring with technical specialists, supervising visual and dramatic effects, monitoring news communications, directing field crews and editing program sequences.
Because the broadcast field has several overlapping roles, applicants should check that their duties match this code rather than a producer, director or technical role. The ANZSCO code finder lets you compare the program director description against adjacent media codes before lodging.
Skills Assessment: VETASSESS
VETASSESS assesses Program Director as a Group B occupation. Group B requires a qualification comparable to an Australian bachelor degree or higher, together with relevant employment.
Highly relevant field of study: Radio and Television — the study of planning, producing and distributing audio and video programmes.
The four assessment pathways:
- A highly relevant bachelor degree or higher, plus at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment in the last five years.
- A degree in any field, plus a highly relevant AQF Diploma, plus two years of post-qualification highly relevant employment.
- A degree in a non-relevant field, plus three years of post-qualification highly relevant employment.
- Any bachelor degree, plus six years of total employment, with at least one year of highly relevant employment in the last five years.
All pathways require at least 20 hours of paid work per week.
Assessment cost: AUD $1,096 plus GST for the standard skills assessment. Onshore applicants pay AUD $1,205.60 including GST (VETASSESS fee schedule, effective 22 October 2025).
Processing time: Around seven weeks for standard processing. Priority processing returns an outcome in roughly 10 business days for an extra AUD $825.
Common rejection reasons: The usual failure is a reference set that describes producing or presenting rather than directing the programme schedule and content strategy. Applicants from countries where job titles differ should make sure the duties, not just the title, match the program director tasks.
Visa Pathways for Program Directors
ANZSCO 212315 sits on the CSOL and the STSOL but not the MLTSSL, so the independent 189 visa is closed. The viable routes are state-nominated and employer-sponsored.
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa
A state or territory nominates you, adding five points, and the visa grants permanent residency.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910 (primary applicant).
- Points boost: +5 from state nomination.
- Obligation: Live in the nominating state for the period it specifies, usually around two years.
- Quirk that matters: Because the broadcast field is small, only some states nominate this code in any given year. State nomination availability changes annually, so verify the current list before lodging an expression of interest.
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
A regional state or territory nominates you, adding 15 points. A five-year provisional visa with a pathway to permanent residency.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910 (primary applicant).
- Points boost: +15 from regional nomination.
- Note: Regional broadcast roles exist mainly with regional television and radio networks, which can suit applicants willing to base outside the capital cities.
Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand Visa (Core Skills stream)
Employer-sponsored temporary visa.
- Visa fee: AUD $3,210 (primary applicant, Core Skills stream).
- Salary requirement: Must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD $76,515 or the market rate, whichever is higher. Senior program director salaries clear this easily.
- Quirk that matters: With few openings advertised publicly, a direct relationship with a network often produces the sponsorship offer.
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme
Permanent residency through employer sponsorship, via the Direct Entry or Temporary Residence Transition stream. Visa fee AUD $4,910.
Points Test Strategy
The 189 visa is not available, but the 190 and 491 routes still use the points test. A program director will draw points from age, qualifications, English and skilled employment, then add the nomination points.
| Points Factor | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Age (25-32) | 30 | Maximum bracket |
| Qualification (Bachelor) | 15 | Minimum for Skill Level 1 |
| Qualification (Master/PhD) | 15-20 | Higher degrees score more |
| English (Proficient — 7.0) | 10 | Realistic target |
| English (Superior — 8.0+) | 20 | Strong points lift |
| Skilled Employment (overseas, 8+ years) | 15 | After any deduction |
| State Nomination (190) | 5 | If nominated |
| Regional Nomination (491) | 15 | If nominated |
| Partner Skills | 5-10 | If partner qualifies |
Realistic Score Scenarios
Scenario 1: A 30-year-old program director with a relevant degree, Superior English and eight years of experience scores roughly 30 + 15 + 20 + 15 = 80 points. A 190 nomination lifts this to 85, which is competitive in a niche occupation where invitation rounds are small.
Scenario 2: A 34-year-old with a relevant degree, Proficient English and five years of experience scores around 25 + 15 + 10 + 10 = 60 points. A 491 regional nomination adding 15 points reaches 75, or the applicant pursues employer sponsorship through the 482.
State Nomination
Program Director is a niche code, and not every state lists it each year. Availability depends on the current state and territory occupation lists, which are reviewed annually. Applicants should check the relevant state nomination page directly before committing, because a code can appear in one program year and drop the next. Broadcast roles cluster in New South Wales and Victoria for metropolitan television and radio, while regional nomination through the 491 may suit applicants targeting regional network roles.
Salary and Employment Outlook
| Role | Typical Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Radio Program Director (regional/small market) | AUD $90,000-$120,000 |
| Radio Program Director (metro) | AUD $120,000-$150,000 |
| Television Program Director / Scheduler | AUD $130,000-$175,000 |
These ranges reflect Indeed and SalaryExpert data for television and radio directing roles in 2026, cross-checked across both. Television director roles report an average near AUD $141,000, with senior roles above AUD $175,000, while radio program directing pays from around AUD $90,000 in smaller markets.
Total packages add superannuation at 11.5 per cent. The highest pay sits with the metropolitan commercial television networks and the largest radio groups. Pay falls in regional and community broadcasting, where budgets are tighter.
Tips for a Successful Application
- Match duties, not titles. International broadcast titles vary widely. Your references must describe directing the programme schedule and content strategy, which is what VETASSESS measures against the 212315 tasks.
- Separate directing from producing. The most common assessment failure is evidence that reads like a producer or presenter role. Spell out your control over scheduling, format and on-air output.
- Check state lists before lodging an EOI. This is a niche code that not every state nominates each year. Confirm current availability before you commit.
- Target the networks directly for sponsorship. With few public openings, a relationship with a network or radio group is often what produces a 482 nomination.
- Maximise English points. In a small occupation with limited invitation rounds, the difference between Proficient and Superior English can decide whether you receive an invitation.
Step-by-Step Migration Roadmap
- Confirm your role maps to ANZSCO 212315 using the ANZSCO code finder.
- Check the current STSOL and CSOL to confirm the listing.
- Gather your degree documents and detailed employment references.
- Sit an English test, aiming for Superior where possible.
- Lodge the VETASSESS skills assessment (AUD $1,096 plus GST).
- Submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect for the 190 or 491.
- Apply for state or regional nomination where the code is available.
- Alternatively, secure an employer offer for the 482 or 186.
- Receive your invitation and lodge the visa within 60 days.
- Complete health and character checks.
- Receive the visa grant and relocate.
- If on a 491, work toward permanent residency through the subclass 191.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Program Director apply for the subclass 189 visa?
No. ANZSCO 212315 is on the CSOL and the STSOL but not the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List, so the independent 189 visa is not available. The routes are the state-nominated 190, the regional 491, and the employer-sponsored 482 and 186.
Which states nominate Program Directors in 2026?
This varies year to year because the occupation is niche and state lists are reviewed annually. Some states include media and broadcast codes in a given program year and drop them the next. Always check the current state nomination page before lodging an expression of interest. Metropolitan broadcast demand concentrates in New South Wales and Victoria.
What is the difference between this code and a film or stage director role?
Program Director (212315) covers the planning and direction of a broadcast station's programming output for television or radio. It is distinct from film and theatre directing and from technical and stage roles. If your work is theatre-based, the Technical Director or stage management codes may fit better. Match your duties to the right code before lodging.
Is the Australian broadcast market large enough to find work?
The market is small and concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne, with a thinner spread of regional roles. Public openings are limited, so many program directors enter through employer sponsorship arranged with a network or radio group rather than through advertised vacancies.
Do I need a media degree to pass the VETASSESS assessment?
A bachelor degree in Radio and Television is the cleanest pathway, but it is not the only one. VETASSESS allows applicants with a degree in another field to qualify through additional experience, including the three-years and six-years experience pathways. The duties in your references must still match the program director tasks.
