Aged care industry in Australia is growing day by day. The social, economic, rehabilitation,
medical, and personal supports that enable Australians to age well will define the aged care
industry of the future. Australia is confronting a critical segment shift, with a rapidly aging
population that is supposed to put expanded tension on the nation’s aged care system. The
Australian Government has made a firm commitment to expanding the aged care workforce in
order to guarantee that older Australians receive the necessary care and assistance.
The Aged Care Industry Labor Agreement, which will enable employers to sponsor direct care
workers on skilled visas through the Aged Care Industry Labor Agreement rather than having to
negotiate company-specific labor agreements for each individual aged care provider, has been
announced by the government to support this commitment. On 5 May 2023, Pastor’s Giles and
Wells declared a new tripartite approach to address labor force shortages in aged care through
conducting of the new Aged Care Industry Labor Agreement. Additionally, this agreement
makes it easier for migrants to obtain permanent residency.
Australia has different services to help old people. They can get help at home to stay
independent. They can also live in a special place where people take care of them all the time.
Older people can get help for a short time or a long time, depending on what they need. There
are different levels of help available.
The new Aged Care Labor Agreement lets employers hire workers in three occupation that they
couldn’t hire before on a temporary (TSS) or permanent visa (ENS). Employers can now sponsor
these worker-
 Aged or Disabled Carer
 Nursing Support Worker
 Personal Care Assistant

Pathways to permanent residency for sponsored employees

The agreement has acceptable for sponsored international workers to apply for permanent
residency under the Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186) visa program if they have
accomplished at least two years of work experience in a relevant direct care occupation.
It’s interesting that you don’t have to work for a specific employer or visa type for two years of
work experience.

How to apply for the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement
Step 1:
Aged care providers will be essential to first enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with one of the following unions:
 Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF);
 Health Services Union (HSU); or
 United Workers Union (UWU).
Step 2:
Once a MoU has been established with one of the approved unions, aged care providers can
apply for the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs.

Eligibility requirements, criteria and concessions
Concessions to standard skilled visa requirements:
 Two-year pathway to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme
 Streamlined visa nomination and priority visa application processing
 No post qualification work experience requirement
 English language concerns for workers with relevant community language skills
 At least 51,222 AUD Annual salary or the Australian Market Salary Rate, whichever is
higher

Main visa application requirements
 Hold a relevant AQF Certificate III or equivalent, or higher qualification. You can also have
12 months of relevant work experience or part time equivalence.
 Get a positive skills assessment from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation
Council or the Australian Community Workers Association if you attained your
qualifications abroad. This also applies if you claim work experience in lieu of the formal
qualifications.
 Have an English language proficiency level of at least IELTS 5.0 or equivalent. Workers with
target community language skills employed by culturally and linguistically diverse aged care
providers need at least IELTS 4.5 or equivalent.

Labour Market Testing (LMT) requirements will be considered met once aged care providers
have entered into an MoU with the relevant union(s).
The skills and qualifications required may be different from what is listed in the ANZSCO. The
things that need to be done will be explained in each agreement approved by the Department of
Home Affairs.
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