Recruiting overseas workers for Australia’s health and aged-care sector

The challenge of closing the health and care sector talent gap 

Australia’s health services are experiencing staffing problems at scale. If we consider nursing, there are nearly 460,000 nurses and midwives in Australia. It is Australia’s largest healthcare profession, however, anecdotal evidence suggests 75% of nurses in hospital wards are considering leaving the profession, with some hospitals reporting a 30% turnover of nurses each year. 

When we look at social care, Australia is facing a shortage of at least 110,000 direct aged-care workers within the next decade unless urgent action is taken to boost the workforce, a report by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) found.

Such shortfalls create the impetus to use temporary workers and are in part due to the failure of the health and aged-care sector to hire and retain staff in sufficient numbers.

A significant opportunity

‘The Great Resignation’ is widely blamed for the talent gap that has developed in many developed economies. Shortfalls in the numbers of health and aged-care workers had been trending and this was only exacerbated by the pressures put on the health, elderly and community care systems by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For established recruitment businesses that may be looking for opportunities to diversify the sectors in which they operate, or entrepreneurs and startups, the health and social care sector is an opportunity that is certainly worth considering. However… As you can guess there is a road to be trodden and there are obstacles to be navigated.
The rules governing recruitment of migrant health workers to Australia

Illegal migration is a threat that many nations are struggling to deal with. There are as many as 100 million people globally currently estimated to be migrants; public opinion is politically sensitive and policy is robust.

As a result, the process for a recruitment agency in Australia recruiting health workers from overseas involves navigating a complex set of regulations and requirements to ensure compliance with Australian immigration laws. Here is an outline of some of the key steps a recruitment agency would need to take:

• Be registered with the relevant regulator – Recruitment agencies in Australia are required to be registered with the relevant regulatory body in their state or territory. These bodies may have different requirements and processes for registration.
• Advertise the job – Before recruiting from outside Australia, the agency must first advertise the position to Australian residents. Advertising requirements may vary, depending on the industry and occupation.
• Conduct Labour Market Testing (LMT) – After advertising the job, the agency must conduct Labour Market Testing (LMT) to show that no suitable Australian citizen or permanent resident is available to fill the position. The LMT requirements may differ based on occupation and location.
• Sponsor the worker – If a suitable overseas candidate is identified, the agency will need to sponsor them to come to Australia. This involves providing them with a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa or another appropriate visa, and ensuring that they meet the relevant visa requirements.
• Carry out visa and Right to Work checks – Before employing the worker, the agency must carry out checks to ensure that they have a valid visa and are legally allowed to work in Australia.
• Meet any specific industry or occupation requirements – Some industries or occupations may have additional requirements for recruiting overseas workers, such as certain skills or qualifications that are necessary for the job.
• Comply with ongoing visa obligations – The agency and the sponsored worker must comply with all ongoing visa obligations, such as notifying the Department of Home Affairs of any changes in employment status or address.

These are some of the key steps that an Australian recruitment agency would need to take to comply with the rules governing migrant workers when recruiting health workers from overseas. 

As with any new business venture or entry into a market, it is important to seek professional advice. It is imperative to ensure that all legal requirements are met, as the process can be complex and subject to change.

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