Eligible Australian aged care providers can now access a streamlined process for recruiting workers from overseas. The process is accessed by using the new Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is a Labour Agreement?

A labour agreement is an agreement between the Australian Government and employers that is made to enable approved businesses to sponsor skilled overseas workers. Labour agreements are used when there is a demonstrated labour need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market and where standard temporary or permanent visa programs are not available.

Labour agreements are generally in effect for five years and provide for certain visas to be granted. Labour agreements have existed for some time in areas such as farming and hospitality. There is now a labour agreement for the aged care industry.

Purpose of the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement

The purpose of the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement is to make it easier for aged care providers to recruit workers from overseas to fill gaps in their workforce. Eligible Australian aged care providers can use the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement to:

• Fast-track overseas workers to join the workforce. This is done by sponsoring overseas workers for the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa in direct care occupations such as:
  • Nursing Support Worker
  • Personal Care Assistant
  • Aged or Disabled Carer.

• Help workers to get permanent residency. After a worker has worked in Australia full-time for two years, you can sponsor them for permanent residency under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa program. The two years of work experience must be in a direct care role but does not have to be completed under the same employer or same type of visa.

How to Apply

Memorandum of Understanding with the Unions

To access the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement, you must first enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the relevant unions(s):

• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
• Health Services Union; or
• United Workers Union.

Once you have an MoU in place, the Government will “consider labour market testing requirements satisfied”. This means that, once you have an MoU with the unions, the Government will take this as proof that there are no appropriate local candidates for the job, and that you are permitted to bring in overseas workers.

Submit Labour Agreement Request

Once the MoU is established, you can submit the labour agreement request to the Department of Home Affairs. Online labour agreement request forms are available at the Department of Home Affairs online service ImmiAccount.

More Information

• Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Migration Program
• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
• Health Services Union
• United Workers Union