Starting this week and over the coming months, 98 aged care workers are set to come from Fiji to work in 17 Bolton Clarke aged care homes in regional Queensland and New South Wales.
The workers, who will form one of the Government's largest intakes under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Aged Care Expansion (ACE) program, will be employed in Bolton Clarke aged care homes in Townsville, Caloundra, Murwillumbah, Beerwah, and Zilzie.
The aged care workers will complete 16 weeks' training in Fiji with international university Alphacrucis University College, then complete six weeks' practical experience at Bolton Clarke's Rowes Bay and Glendale homes to gain their Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing). After four years, they will return to their home country.
“Finding long-term employees is one of the greatest challenges we face in our regional homes,” said Bolton Clarke Group International Sourcing Manager Sara Allotta.
“Welcoming these new team members is a win-win, supporting continuity of care for residents and offering training and employment opportunities that can be life-changing for PALM workers.”
“This is one of the largest single country mobilisations under the ACE program," said Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy (pictured right).
"It will help fill critical workforce shortages in aged care homes that have struggled to find local labour.
“Not only do these workers from the Pacific look after older members of our community and fill critical workforce gaps, but they also make a significant contribution to the economies of their home countries and strengthen relationships across the Pacific.”
The aim of the Government's PALM Aged Care Expansion program is to bring at least 500 trained aged care workers to Australia.
Earlier this month, Southern Cross Care NSW & ACT revealed it is looking to expand the number of aged care workers it has employed from Timor-Leste under the PALM scheme to work in Grafton and Corowa in regional NSW.
