Introducing the New Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement

The Australian aged care sector has been grappling with a shortage of qualified direct care workers. To address this challenge, the Australian government has recently introduced the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement. This agreement aims to streamline the recruitment of qualified overseas workers for the aged care sector, providing support where suitable local candidates are not available. In this blog post, we will explore the key details and takeaways from this new labour agreement.

Streamlining Workforce Recruitment

The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement offers a simplified process for aged care providers to access qualified direct care workers from overseas. This streamlining will assist in meeting the demand for skilled professionals in the sector. To participate in the program, aged care providers must first establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the relevant industry union(s), namely the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Health Services Union, or United Workers Union.

Key Objectives 

The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement serves two primary purposes:

1. Temporary Skill Shortage Visa: Under this agreement, employers can sponsor overseas workers for the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa in direct care occupations. These occupations include Nursing Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant, and Aged or Disabled Carer. However, employers are required to demonstrate genuine efforts in recruiting local workers before turning to overseas recruitment.
2. Permanent Residence Visa: The labour agreement also enables aged care providers to sponsor overseas workers for permanent residence under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa program. To qualify for this pathway, workers must have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience in Australia in a relevant direct care occupation. This work experience is not tied to a specific employer or visa subclass.

Advantages and Concessions

The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement offers several benefits and concessions to streamline the recruitment process and facilitate the entry of skilled professionals. Some key advantages include:

1. Pathway to Permanent Residence: The agreement provides a two-year pathway to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme, allowing eligible workers to secure long-term employment in the aged care sector.
2. Streamlined Processes: The agreement streamlines visa nomination and prioritises the processing of visa applications, reducing administrative burdens for employers and applicants.
3. Work Experience and Language Concessions: Unlike other visa programs, the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement does not impose a post-qualification work experience requirement. Additionally, workers with relevant community language skills may benefit from English language concessions.
4. Competitive Remuneration: Workers under this agreement are entitled to an annual salary of at least $51,222 AUD or the Australian Market Salary Rate, whichever is higher, ensuring fair compensation for their services.

Visa Application Requirements

To be eligible for the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement, workers must meet certain criteria, including:

1. Qualifications: Hold a relevant AQF Certificate III or equivalent qualification in direct care occupations. Alternatively, 12 months of relevant work experience or part-time equivalence is accepted.
2. Skills Assessment: Obtain a positive skills assessment from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council or the Australian Community Workers Association if qualifications were obtained overseas. This requirement also applies to those claiming work experience in lieu of formal qualifications.
3. English Language Proficiency: Workers need to demonstrate English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS 5.0 or equivalent. However, workers employed by culturally and linguistically diverse aged care providers and possessing target community language skills may be eligible with an IELTS 4.5 or equivalent.

The changes to the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement provides a vital framework to address the shortage of skilled direct care workers in the aged care sector. This streamlined recruitment process offers benefits and concessions for both employers and overseas workers, while ensuring that suitable opportunities are first extended to the domestic workforce. By facilitating the entry of qualified professionals, this agreement contributes to the overall enhancement of aged care services and the well-being of older Australians.

To ensure workers can meet the qualification criteria, accredify can help workers obtain relevant AQF Certificate III or higher in the form of a:

• Certificate III in Individual Support (Release 1)
• Certificate IV in Disability (Release 1)
• Certificate IV in Ageing Support (Release 1)

To find out if you’re eligible, give us a call today on 1300 755 315 or complete a 90 second Free Skills Review.