Skilled migration change to attract global health workers

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neill has announced that Australia’s skilled migration system will be simplified and red tape reduced, in a strategy welcomed by the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA).

APHA CEO Michael Roff said he was pleased to hear O’Neill reference Australia’s need to compete in a global marketplace for skilled workers and that all temporary skilled workers will have a pathway to permanent residency by the end of the year.

“Australia is lagging behind in what it offers the workers we really need. For example, Canada rapidly moved to offer health workers easy pathways to residency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; France and the UK have made similar arrangements. We are on the back foot and will have to catch up; just opening up migration again has not been enough to entice people here.

“It is pleasing to hear the Minister reference this and talk about how we can improve the infrastructure to support migrants when they come to Australia.

“In the private hospital sector alone there is a shortage of 8000 nurses and we continue to compete globally for a health workforce. Having measures in place that will ensure an easy pathway to residency in Australia is a very welcome move.”

Roff said removing labour market testing was a key recommendation APHA put to the government which will streamline recruitment for overseas-based workers.

“We look forward working with the government as they develop their final plan in the coming months,” Roff said.

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