Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care in Bega, on the NSW South Coast, will bring in 25 extra migrant workers per year under a new labour agreement with the Federal Government, in order to address staff shortages.
The community-based Not For Profit will be able to hire foreign workers on four-year contracts, with eligibility for permanent residency after two years; once the contract is up, it will have the option to transition individual workers to full-time.
The provider’s chief executive, Matt Sierp (pictured), told the ABC that Sapphire Coast is the first Australian business to be approved for Assistants in Nursing (AiNs) under the program.
“We had to employ immigration lawyers, specialists and recruitment consultants to assist us just to get through the red tape.
“However, it’s all worth it because we have 16 new staff on the ground, and we’ve got an opportunity (to employ) 25 new staff each year under this agreement,” he said.
A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson told the ABC that labour agreements are open to businesses that have been operating for more than 12 months “where standard visa programs are unavailable and there is a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market”.
The Albanese Government this year increased Australia’s migration cap to bring in more skilled workers in an effort to alleviate the workforce crisis.
