Plastics Technician
A Plastics Technician works with plastic materials and polymer processing equipment to manufacture, fabricate, or test plastic components and products. In Australia, this trade supports manufacturing across packaging, automotive, building, and consumer goods industries.
Full-time AUD, 2025 indicative. Wide bands reflect variation by employer, experience, and location.
Moderate demand in manufacturing regions, with some contraction in traditional plastics manufacturing offset by growth in technical and medical plastics sectors.
Occupation list membership
Which Department of Home Affairs skilled lists this occupation currently appears on.
- CSOLCombined Skilled Occupation List
The merged skilled list that consolidates previous MLTSSL and STSOL eligibility under the Skills in Demand program.
Assessing authority
The body that assesses skills for migration purposes for this occupation.
- TRATrades Recognition AustraliaVisit official site →
Visa pathways
Australian visa subclasses for which this occupation is currently eligible.
- 186Learn more →Employer Nomination Scheme visa
Permanent employer-sponsored visa for workers nominated by an approved sponsor.
- 482Learn more →Skills in Demand visa
Employer-sponsored temporary visa (formerly TSS) for occupations on the relevant list.
- 494Learn more →Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
Five-year employer-sponsored provisional visa in regional Australia, with a path to PR.
Key duties
- Operate injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, or thermoforming machinery
- Set up and adjust machinery to meet product specifications and tolerances
- Inspect finished plastic products for defects and dimensional accuracy
- Maintain processing equipment and assist with troubleshooting production issues
Skills required
- Knowledge of polymer materials and their processing characteristics
- Operation and setup of plastic manufacturing machinery
- Quality control measurement techniques
- Understanding of workplace safety for machinery and chemical hazards
Typical qualifications pathway
A Certificate III in Polymer Processing or a relevant trade qualification is typical. TRA is the assessing authority for migration purposes.
Visa & occupation list information
This occupation appears on the CSOL. Eligible Australian skilled visa pathways include subclasses 186, 482, and 494. State nominations are available from nominating states and territories. For advice on which pathway suits your circumstances, consult a registered MARA migration agent.
anzsco.com.au is information-only. For personalised advice on your situation, always consult a registered MARA migration agent.
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