The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement lets the employer sponsor overseas direct care workers in the aged care sector in the Labour Agreement streams of the:

• Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.

How to Streamline Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement?

Streamlined access to the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement is provided to employers that enter into and maintain a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with relevant industry union(s). Aged care providers that enter into an MoU with the relevant industry union(s) will receive streamlined access to the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement.

For more information about entering into an MoU, contact the three relevant industry unions below in the first instance:

• 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

Which occupations can an employer nominate?

You can nominate overseas direct care workers to work in the aged care sector in the following Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) positions:

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

What is the English language requirement?

Overseas workers must meet the following English language requirements.

Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

For overseas workers employed by standard aged care providers:

• IELTS 5.0 (or equivalent) with minimum component scores of 5.0 for speaking and listening and 4.5 for reading and writing.

For overseas workers employed by culturally and linguistically diverse aged care providers:

• IELTS 4.5 (or equivalent) with no component minimum, provided the overseas worker is fluent in the target community language.

Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)

• IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) with no component minimum.

Does the employee need to have Skills Assessment?

To meet occupation requirements for a Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186), overseas workers must have one of the following:

• a relevant Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate III or equivalent, or a higher qualification
• 12 months of relevant full time work experience, or equivalent part time experience.

If the overseas worker obtained their qualification overseas or is claiming work experience in lieu of a relevant qualification, they will need a positive skills assessment from either:

• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (for Nursing Support Worker ANZSCO 423312 or Personal Care Assistant ANZSCO 423313)
• Australian Community Workers Association (for Aged or Disabled Carer ANZSCO 423111).

Is there any Work Experience Requirement?

The employee does not need to meet a minimum level of post qualification work experience to satisfy visa criteria for a Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482).

Applicants for an Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) must have at least two years of work experience in Australia in a relevant direct care occupation. The two years of work experience is not tied to a particular employer or visa subclass.

What’s the Salary Requirement?

The employer must:

• employ the overseas worker on a full-time basis
• meet the National Employment Standards if overtime hours are included in the contract for the overseas worker
• pay the overseas worker a minimum of $51,222 AUD (guaranteed annual earnings) or the Australian Market Salary Rate for the position, where it is higher.

What’s the Age Requirement?

There is no age limit for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482).

The age limit for an Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is 45 years of age.

Is there Labour market testing requirement?

The establishment, and maintenance, of an MoU with the relevant industry union(s) will satisfy the labour market testing requirements

Wrapping it up!!

The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement serves as a vital pathway for addressing workforce shortages in Australia’s aged care sector by enabling employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers. Through streamlined processes, such as establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with relevant industry unions, aged care providers can efficiently access the Labour Agreement, ensuring the timely recruitment of qualified direct care workers. By meeting key eligibility requirements—covering English proficiency, skills assessment, work experience, and salary benchmarks—employers and workers can contribute to the delivery of high-quality aged care services. This agreement not only enhances workforce capacity but also supports the growing needs of the aged care sector, aligning with Australia’s commitment to providing compassionate and professional care to its aging population.