On 05 May 2023, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles announced the implementation of a new Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement assist employers in the aged care industry to address skills shortages.

This labor agreement is ready for employers to access immediately and will provide concessional pathways to permanent residency for overseas workers in the following occupations:

  1. Nursing Support Worker (ANZSCO 423312)
  2. Personal Care Assistant (ANZSCO 423313)
  3. Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111)

Employers seeking access to this Labor Agreement must enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of the following relevant industry union:

Once approved,

  1. Sponsor overseas workers for the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa for up to 4 years.
  2. Sponsor overseas workers for permanent residence under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa program. Workers must have at least 2 years of full time work experience in Australia in a relevant direct care occupation. The work experience required is not tied to a particular employer or visa subclass.

Key Visa Criteria and concessions

English

  • IELTS 5 with no band less than 4.5
  • Or IELTS 4.5 if working with culturally and linguistically diverse aged care providers

Qualifications & Experience

  • AQF Certificate III or equivalent and no post-qualification experience required
  • 12 months of relevant full-time work experience or part-time equivalent is required in lieu of formal qualifications
  • For ENS 186 visa (permanent visa), applicants will require two years full-time work experience in Australia

Skills Assessment

A positive skills assessment is required for applicants who obtained qualifications overseas or are claiming work experience in lieu of formal qualifications. Assessments must be done by either:

  • Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council – for Nursing Support Worker or Personal Care Assistant, or,
  • The Australian Community Workers Association – for Aged or Disabled Carer

Salary

Minimum $51,222 or at the Australian Market Salary Rate, whichever is higher

This pathway offers major concessions to prospective employers and visa applicants in the Aged Care Industry and with streamlined pathway to permanent residency, this new programme will certainly have an immediate impact on assisting employers in this industry to fill ongoing skills shortages.

If you are an employer in the Aged Care Industry wishing to take advantage of this new labour agreement or you are a prospective visa applicant wishing to find out more about this pathway, please contact our migration agent Melbourne to discuss this further.