Do the oz exams have to be done if only working temporarily?

Hi Guys a friend and i qualified in sept 09 and are looking to come over to aus to work for a year or so on a temporary basis. At present we are not really getting any straight answers as to whether we need to take the entry exams before coming out. I know of one girl who worked for 6 months in NSW without taking the exams so i am guessing it is possible. Can anybody please clarify whether it is possible to work on a temporay basis i.e 6 months or less in aus without taking the exams. We are looking to apply for the 417 visa as we thought this is the most suitable one.

Many thanks to anyone who can help us, as soon as we have the go ahead we can book our flights!

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Until 30 June 2010 there are different types of temporary registration in each of the eight States and Territories. After that date, there will be a period of transition to a single registration authority for all of Australia. The registration board websites for NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia all have information that answers your question - each is slightly different so it is too complex to provide an answer in a reply on this forum.