Is a 482 Visa Available for Aged Care Workers?

Is a 482 visa for aged care workers like you? Are you an aged care worker passionate and dedicated looking for a new challenge and a career abroad? If so, look no further than Australia! With an ageing population, Australia has a big demand for skilled and compassionate carers.

This means exciting opportunities for experienced aged care workers like you to build a career in Australia. Let’s get you started on getting your 482 visa. We will answer your questions and outline the process for a seamless visa application. Read on to find out the answer to the question ‘Is a 482 visa for aged care workers?’

What is the 482 Visa?

Before we answer the question ‘Is a 482 visa for aged care workers?’, let’s first find out what is a 482 visa. This visa is to fill job gaps in Australia by bringing in skilled workers like you with the proper Australian market salary rate. The Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) is for skilled workers who can fill job shortages in Australia. There are three streams:

1. Short-term stream: Stay up to 2 years (4 years with an International Trade Obligation or for Hong Kong passport holders). Your relevant direct care occupation must be on the Short-term Skilled Occupations List. Cost from AUD$1,455.
2. Medium-term stream: Stay up to 4 years (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders). Your occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL). Cost from AUD$3,035.
3. Labour agreement stream: Stay up to 4 years (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders), depending on the agreement. Your particular employer must have a Labour Agreement with the Australian Government. Cost from AUD$3,035.

Your open personal circumstances will depend on the stream you choose. The Department of Home Affairs has the list of occupations for each stream here.

So Is the Visa for Aged Care Workers?

Yes! Australia is making it easier for qualified carers like you to work in their aged care sector. This is through a new initiative called the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ILA). The ILA helps employers find overseas skilled workers when they can’t find qualified Australians for the positions.

This means more opportunities for you to build a career in Australia while caring for the older people. And better still, access to the ILA is streamlined for employers who partner with relevant industry unions. This can speed up your application process. The agreement makes it easier for aged care providers to sponsor overseas workers for specific in-demand roles:

1. Nursing Support Worker (ANZSCO 423312)
2. Personal Care Assistant (ANZSCO 423313)
3. Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111)

The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA) simplifies visa processing for overseas workers in caregiving roles. But employers need to take the first step.

Here’s the summary for ‘Is a 482 visa for aged care workers’. Employers must partner with relevant industry unions by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This will give them access to ACILA. Once the MoU is in place, employers can submit their ACILA request online through ImmiAccount.

Is a 482 Visa for Aged Care Workers: Process

1. Employer Access: Before you apply for a visa, check if your employer has ACILA access. This will allow them to nominate you for a specific stream.
2. Visa Nomination: Once you have ACILA access, check if your employer has nominated you for:

• Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) Labour Agreement Stream; or
• Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) Labour Agreement Stream

3. Skills Assessment (if required): Depending on your role, you may need a positive skills assessment. This might also include a language assessment test especially for workers with relevant community language or target community language skills

Contact:

• Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC): For Direct Care Skills Assessment.
• Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA): For Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement assessment (if applicable to your role).

Is a 482 Visa for Aged Care Workers: Employer Tips

Let’s get into the tips for aged care employers in this ‘Is a 482 visa for aged care workers’ article. Looking to grow your aged care team with overseas skilled workers? The ACILA can help! Here’s a quick guide for employers:

First Tip: Partner with a Union

• Contact the relevant industry union: Reach out to the Health Services Union, United Workers Union or Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. Their details are online or on the Department of Home Affairs website.
• Negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): Work with the chosen union to establish an agreement that outlines your participation in ACILA.

Second Tip: Get ACILA Access

• Once the MoU is signed, log into ImmiAccount and request ACILA access.
• Look for the option “company specific labour agreement” (Note: This will change to “Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement” soon).
• Attach the signed MoU from the union to your request. The Department will verify the agreement.
• You will receive a notification from the Department once your ACILA access is approved.

Third Tip: Nominate and Onboard New Team Members

With ACILA access approved, you can nominate overseas workers for aged care roles. There are two visa options: Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) both with the Labour Agreement stream for faster processing.

• Once you nominate a qualified candidate, they can apply for the visa with priority processing.
• Once visa is approved, the worker can start working with your team and providing great care to your residents.

If you have more questions beyond ‘Is a 482 visa for aged care workers’, you should speak to immigration lawyers. They know all about visa processes and also help you transition to permanent residence in Australia.

How We Can Help?

At JB Solicitors, we know how to navigate the Australian immigration system. We can also assist you with every step of the ACILA process, from checking your employer’s ACILA access to understanding your skill and qualification requirements. We’ll answer your questions and represent you regarding priority visa application processing.

Don’t hesitate to contact JB Solicitors today – let’s turn your dream of working in Australian aged care into a reality.