Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said these special visa arrangements will allow aged care facilities to access a personalised visa arrangement to hire employees with the skills to cater for the needs of their communities' elderly.
"Australia has a long and proud history of migration. Aged care providers have identified a need for bilingual carers, as elderly people or those with dementia may revert to their native language or lose the ability to speak a second language," Mr Coleman said.
"This visa arrangement demonstrates the Government's commitment to migrant communities and those organisations who care for Australia's elderly. It will greatly assist them in finding the right staff to deliver vital aged care services."
"Company specific labour agreements will enable aged care providers to deliver specialised services that better understand a residents' cultural needs."
In delivering vital aged care services to the Australian community, aged care providers can request a company specific labour agreement to sponsor skilled overseas workers for a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, or an Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa.
Labour agreements will only be considered where it is demonstrated that Australians cannot fill skill shortages and standard work visa programs cannot be utilised.
The company specific labour agreement enables aged care providers to access overseas workers where they previously have been unable to, as the required occupation is not on the list of eligible skilled occupations.
