The Australian job landscape is rapidly changing as it responds to unprecedented challenges posed by the impacts of COVID-19. Such challenges have led to new jobs being created, and new skills being demanded from existing jobs. The Health Care and Social Assistance industry has been identified as one of Australia’s largest and fastest growing industries, employing over 1.5 million people. This industry is the largest employing industry in Australia and is projected to grow by 15.8% over the five years to November 2026.
Workers are needed in the Healthcare and Social Assistance industry to support the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, skilled staff shortages, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), investments in hospitals, the ageing population, and growing demand for aged care, childcare, and home-care based services. Some of the occupations likely to experience strong future growth and demand in the five years to 2026 are:
- Aged and Disabled Carers (up by 28%)
- Registered Nurses (up by 13.9%)
- Welfare Support Workers (up to 25.2%)
As published by the National Skills Commission, Aged and Disabled Carers is projected to record the largest growth over the five years to November 2026, followed by Registered Nurse, General Clerks, Welfare support Therapists, and Physiotherapists. The National Skills Commission is the body that has responsibility for regularly reviewing the national skills needs of Australia, including the skilled occupation list for migration.
Aged and Disabled Carers
Aged and Disabled Carers is currently ineligible for the skilled migration program because it is not listed on any of the occupation lists. According to the Skills Priority List published by the National Skills Commission in June 2021, the occupation was listed as being in national shortage, with strong future demand. Aged and Disabled Carers is an occupation to be keeping an eye on as it would be interesting to see whether the occupation will become an addition to the skilled occupation list for migration once the list is reviewed this year.
At present, the occupation may be eligible for skilled migration under the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA). There are currently 12 DAMAs in place:
- Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement, SA: Skilled & Business Migration
- East Kimberley, WA: East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Far North Queensland, QLD: Cairns Chamber of Commerce,
- Goulburn Valley, VIC: Goulburn Valley
- Great South Coast, VIC: Warrnambool City Council
- Northern Territory, NT: Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement
- Orana, NSW: Regional Development Australia – Orana, NSW
- Pilbara, WA: website being developed
- South Australia Regional, SA: Skilled & Business Migration
- South West, WA: Shire of Dardanup
- The Goldfields, WA: City of Kalgoorlie Boulder
- Townsville, QLD: Townsville Enterprise Limited
* Please refer to the individual DAMA for further details on the sponsorship visas available and pathway to permanent residency as access to each DAMA differs.
Registered Nurse
Registered Nurse is an ANZSCO unit group with 13 specific occupations within it. All 13 occupations are featured on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), which lists the occupations in high demand across the whole of Australia. Of the 13 occupations, 6 occupations are also featured on the Priority Migration Occupation List (PMSOL) which is a list identifying occupations that fill critical skills needs to support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19. It is expected for these occupations to remain on the MLTSSL in the future.
Welfare Support Workers
Welfare Support Workers is an ANZSCO unit group with 6 occupations within it. These occupations include Community Worker, Disabilities Services Officer, Family Support Workers, Parole or Probation Officer, Residential Care Officer, and Youth Worker. Parole or Probation Officer is currently featured on the Regional Occupation List (ROL) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS), while the other 5 occupations are featured on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
* Please note that from 1 July 2022, the application requirements for the Graduate Work stream will be streamlined by removing the requirement for graduates to nominate an occupation from the skills occupation list. Please see here for further details.
Case study
Earlier this year, Migration Affairs had a client who was holding a Bridging Visa A (BVA) while he awaits allocation of an Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) hearing on his refused visa. His BVA was subject to condition 8107 – Work limitation. In summary, this visa condition requires the visa holder must only work in the occupation listed in the most recently approved nomination, only work for their sponsor, and must not cease employment for a period that exceeds 60 consecutive days. The client had critical skills in the health industries sector but due to the work limitation of his BVA, he was restricted to working with his sponsor and was unable to move employers. Migration Affairs was successful in helping the client waive condition 8107 with a decision turnaround (from lodgement to decision) in under a week. This was great news for the client as he was finally able to move to South Australia to find job opportunities and sponsorship under the DAMA which offered an age concession for his nominated occupation.
Reference: https://labourmarketinsights.gov.au/our-research/employment-projections/
