CHA: Migration policy must support health and aged care workforce

If Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is committed to securing the skills that Australian industries need to be sustainable and thrive, then he must consider what additional support is needed to support our health and aged care sector.

With workforce challenges reaching critical levels, the health and aged care sector has often turned to skilled migration pathways to remain viable.

In 2020-21, some 3670 registered nurses entered Australia on skilled visas under the permanent migration program, pointing to the utilisation of this pathway to build Australia’s nursing workforce.

Only two years ago, the Coalition Government noted its desire to see more migration to fill aged care workforce shortages, not less.

Although we remain open to alternative pathways to attract and retain the number of skilled professionals needed for our sector, blanket cuts to immigration of 25 per cent to address housing shortages in the short term risks creating one problem in an attempt to solve another.

Along with the Opposition Leader’s pledge to protect the skilled migration of trade skills to build housing, he must consider the role of migration in Australia’s care workforce.

Furthermore, Catholic Health Australia calls for more robust measures to protect those who do come to Australia through migration programs, to eradicate the scourge of modern slavery in this country.