Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement

New Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement Australia: What You Need to Know

As a way to treat the skilled labour shortage plaguing Australia’s aged care sector, the Government has streamlined the recruitment process for Australian employers who can’t find appropriately skilled aged care workers locally.

In this blog post, we’ll go into the specifics of the new aged care industry labour agreement, including its purpose, requirements for both employers and workers, terms and concessions, and other key details.

Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements

The new Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement was announced on 5 May 2023, paving a faster pathway for Australian employers who engage in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a relevant industry union to source direct care workers overseas.

For more information about MoUs, the Department of Home Affairs advises sponsoring employers to email the top three sector-specific unions:

• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (email: industrial@anmf.org.au)
• Health Services Union (email: hsu@hsu.net.au)
• United Workers Union (email: agedcarelabouragreements@unitedworkers.org.au)

What is the purpose of Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement?

The purpose of the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement is to have a more flexible recruitment process for employers to sponsor overseas direct care workers, specifically in the following occupations:

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

Nursing Support Worker (ANZSCO 423312)

Nursing support workers offer limited patient treatment processes under the administration of licensed nurses in health care premises. Tasks can include:

• Accommodating patients with personal care needs like eating, dressing, and showering
• Offering assistance to patients with communication needs
• Being active for the organisation of patient care
• Following therapy interventions to help patients with behavioural complications
• Observing and reporting the condition of patients
• Assisting rehabilitation sessions
• Providing general treatment and delivery of prescriptions

Personal Care Assistant (ANZSCO 423313)

Personal care assistants aid in routine personal care services to health care personnels. Tasks can include:

• Providing assistance to patients that needs showering, dressing, eating, and mobility support
• Cooperating in individual care organisation
• Adhering to therapy plans to offer assistance to patients with dementia and other psychological complications
• Proper reports of patients’ status
• Participating in the rehabilitation assistance for the patients

Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111)

A person who works for the aged or disabled industry supports elderly or disabled people by providing assistance to their daily tasks and personal activities. This kind of service takes place in a residential care space or in the client’s home. Tasks can include:

• Assisting with daily tasks
• Preparing meals and drinks
• Organising activities that enhance the social life of patients
• Offering free transportations for medical appointments
• Cleaning and sanitising the client’s premises
• Helping with personal hygiene
• Promoting healthy companionship and friendship support
• Shopping for home essentials

Visa Application and Employment Period

Candidates and applicants who qualify for the basic eligibility requirements can be sponsored under the Labour Agreement streams of either:

• Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa

Approved sponsors can employ migrant aged care workers for up to four (4) years on a temporary visa and or offer them permanent residence after two (2) additional years of employment.

Labour Testing

However, it must be emphasised that employers and/or aged care providers must first conduct a labour market testing and establish that there is no available skilled direct carer to hire in Australia, making it necessary to source and sponsor workers abroad.

Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement: Terms and Concessions

The following terms and concessions are part of the new Aged Care Labour Agreement:

• Overall score of 5 points in IELTS or its equivalent (at least 5 for speaking and listening, and at least 4.5 for reading and writing). Minimum overall score requirement is 4.5 among culturally and linguistically diverse care providers.
• Minimum of AUD $51,222 or the Australian market salary rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.
• The new Labour Agreement for the aged care sector gives an easier two-year pathway to PR (from the previous three years) under the subclass 186 visa.
• No post-work experience requirement for subclass 482, while the mandatory two-year work experience for subclass 186 does not require applicants to be with the same employer or subclass. 
• Visa nomination is simplified while processing direct care visa applications is prioritised.
• Nominated applicants must possess an AQF Certificate III, its equivalent, a higher qualification, or a 12-month direct care work experience if you don’t have the relevant certification. 
• If you applied offshore or are applying with relevant work experience in lieu of the main qualification, you must undergo a skills assessment through the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council or from the Australian Community Workers Association.

Other Available Labour Agreements Per Industry

Sector-specific labour agreements have one common goal: streamline the recruitment and/or nomination process for sponsoring Australian employers and have a clearer, surer, and faster pathway to employment among skilled workers. Aside from the aged care sector, here are the other industries with labour agreements that benefit from better flexibility.

• Advertising Industry Labour Agreements
• Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements
• Dairy Industry Labour Agreements
• Fishing Industry Labour Agreements
• Horticulture Industry Labour Agreements
• Meat Industry Labour Agreements
• Minister of Religion Industry Labour Agreements
• On-Hire Industry Labour Agreements
• Pork Industry Labour Agreements
• Restaurant (Premium Dining) Industry Labour Agreements