With an aging population and an ever-growing demand for quality care, Australia is actively seeking skilled professionals to strengthen its aged care sector. To address the workforce gap, the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement provides a streamlined migration pathway for overseas direct care workers, helping employers access much-needed talent while offering skilled professionals a rewarding career in Australia.

Understanding the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement

The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement allows Australian aged care providers to sponsor skilled overseas workers under two primary visa streams:

🔹 Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) – A temporary visa enabling skilled professionals to work in Australia. 🔹 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186) – A permanent residency pathway for experienced aged care professionals.

This agreement is designed with set terms and conditions that cannot be altered, ensuring fair and ethical employment practices.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible aged care employers can nominate skilled overseas workers for the following Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) roles:

✔ Nursing Support Worker (ANZSCO 423312) ✔ Personal Care Assistant (ANZSCO 423313) ✔ Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111)

How Can Employers Access This Agreement?

Aged care providers looking to hire skilled overseas workers must establish and maintain a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of the key industry unions:

📌 Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF): industrial@anmf.org.au
📌Health Services Union (HSU): hsu@hsu.net.au
📌United Workers Union (UWU): agedcarelabouragreements@unitedworkers.org.au

Employers who enter into an MoU with these unions gain streamlined access to the agreement, reducing red tape and making it easier to fill workforce gaps.

Key Requirements for Employers

✅ Full-time employment must be provided to the sponsored worker.
✅ Employers must comply with National Employment Standards if overtime hours are included in the contract.
✅ Workers must be paid a minimum guaranteed salary of AUD $51,222 or the Australian Market Salary Rate, whichever is higher.

Employers must also demonstrate a genuine need for international workers by fulfilling labour market testing requirements, which are satisfied through the MoU with the relevant unions.

Eligibility Criteria for Skilled Overseas Workers

1. English Language Proficiency

📌 Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482):

• Standard aged care providers: IELTS 5.0 overall, with at least 5.0 in speaking and listening and 4.5 in reading and writing.
• Culturally and linguistically diverse aged care providers: IELTS 4.5 overall (no minimum component score) if the worker is fluent in the target community language.

📌 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186):

• IELTS 5.5 overall (no minimum component score required).

2. Qualifications and Experience

To qualify, an applicant must have at least one of the following:

✔ An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate III or an equivalent international qualification.
✔ 12 months of full-time relevant work experience (or equivalent part-time experience).
✔ A positive skills assessment from one of the following authorities:

• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (for Nursing Support Worker & Personal Care Assistant roles).
• Australian Community Workers Association (for Aged or Disabled Carer roles).

3. Work Experience Requirements

📌 Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482): No post-qualification work experience required.
📌Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186): Minimum two years of relevant direct care experience in Australia, which can be gained under any employer or visa subclass.

4. Age Restrictions

📌 No age limit for applicants under the Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482).
📌Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186) applicants must be under 45 years of age at the time of application.

Why Is This Agreement Important?

For aged care providers, this agreement ensures that they can hire highly skilled professionals to meet rising demands while maintaining quality care for elderly Australians.

For skilled overseas workers, this agreement offers a chance to build a fulfilling career in Australia’s aged care sector, with a clear pathway to permanent residency.

Final Thoughts

The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement is a game-changer for Australia’s aged care sector. By providing a structured migration pathway, it helps to ensure a sustainable workforce while creating opportunities for skilled international workers.

💡 Are you an employer looking to hire skilled overseas workers? Secure an MoU with one of the key industry unions to gain streamlined access to the agreement.

💡 Are you a skilled professional seeking a rewarding career in Australia? Ensure you meet the qualification and experience criteria before applying.

🔗 For more details, contact Growmore Immigration