An elderly care course may be right for you if you are compassionate and love interacting with senior citizens. A career in aged care offers many rewarding prospects for employment. You will learn how to give clients direct care while also learning more about illnesses and problems that are associated to getting older. Since there is a need for more elderly care workers, skilled people are in great demand.
Aged Care Courses in Australia for a Rewarding Career and PR
Study an aged care course in Australia and work in an in-demand industry that is rewarding – and can get you PR.
Why Study Aged Care Programs in Australia?
Thereโs high demand for aged care in Australia – baby boomers are getting older, and the aging population means thereโs not enough young people to support them. People are living longer than ever before, and in Australia alone, the population of 85+people will increase from 515,700 in the 2018-2019 period, to more than 1.5 million by 2058.
The Future of Aged Care in Australia
Health issues are more common as people get older. This implies that Australia is experiencing the ideal storm, which includes a rapidly aging population, people living longer, and a limited pool of careers.
Additionally, the newly released Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Final Report has 148 suggestions for improving the aged care industry’s existing inability to deliver high-quality, compassionate care. In order to develop 18,000 employment for aged care professionals by 2023, the Australian government then pledged $92 million. There is a place for you in the expanding elderly care sector.
Aged Care as a Pathway to Australian PR
The elderly care industry offers a variety of jobs and responsibilities, but only two of them allow for immigration.
ANZSCO 423111, Aged or Disabled Career, offers support and care to senior persons residing in their residences, the community, or in institutions for the elderly.
Nursing care is provided to the elderly in the community or in institutions and retirement communities by Registered Nurse (Aged Care) ANZSCO 254412. A profession with a scarcity of skills is registered nurse. When eligible, you can submit a visa application:
- 186 Visa โ Employer nomination permanent visa
- 189 Visa โ Points tested permanent visa
- 190 Visa โ Skilled nominated permanent visa
- 407 Visa โ Training visa temporary visa (up to two years)
- 485 Visa โ Temporary graduate visa (up to 18 months in order to find a permanent job)
- 482 Visa โ Short term stream temporary visa (up to two years)
- 187 Visa โ Temporary residence transition stream permanent visa
- 494 Visa โ Skilled employer sponsored regional provisional visa (up to five years)
- 491 Visa โ Skilled work regional provisional visa (up to five years)
While aged care workers are not on the skills shortage list, employers can hire immigrants on a labour agreement program. This is when qualified and experienced Australians cannot be filled in these roles.
This happens via a state or territory sponsorship using a skills assessment, usually via the 491 visa (skilled work regional provisional visa). The other option is finding an employer to sponsor you under a designated area migration agreement called the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), or a labour agreement, under the 482 or 494 visas. While these are temporary visas, they can lead to PR. The DAMA applies in the Northern Territory, South Australia (regional), and the Orana region of NSW.
Want to Move to Australia on an Aged Care Qualification Gained Overseas?
The skills assessment authority for nurses in Australia is this ANMAC, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council. Youโll need to get a role through the visas listed above, and then have your qualifications and experience assessed as equivalent to an Australian qualification. Once approved, this information can be sent along with your visa application.
Benefits of Working in Aged Care in Australia
- Job security: There are many positions to pick from and mobility within Australia because these positions are in great demand.
- PR: Any visa you apply for, even if it isn’t a PR visa, may be a gateway to a permanent visa.
- Salary: Aged care registered nurses can specialize further if they so choose, earning between $75,000 and $100,000 annually. Caregivers earn in the range of $50,000 to $60,000.
Programs for Older People in Australia
Entry-Level Programs for Elder Care
The very minimum entrance requirement for the elderly care industry is the Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015). It includes practical placements so that you may start your career right after graduation. It is often offered in institutions all around Australia and normally lasts for six months. From here, you can pursue studies in fields that are getting more and more specialised, including palliative care and dementia. According to estimates, 70% of elderly residents have dementia, yet not enough careers, doctors, or nurses are knowledgeable about their symptoms and requirements.
Courses that further education include:
Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015)
Certificate IV in Leisure and Health (CHC43415)
These courses need an IELTS score of around 5.5 across all bands, but this may differ across individual providers. Costs vary, but typically you can expect to pay AU$5000 for each six month course.
Registered Nurse Qualifications
To become a registered nurse, the pathway is longer but the benefits are greater.
- Bachelor of Nursing: This is generally a three year degree, and requires an IELTS score of around 7 (although this differs across providers). Fees vary, but expect to pay approximately AU$15,000 per semester.
- Master of Nursing (Aged Care): This degree can take around two years to complete. It allows you to specialise in the kind of care that older people need, with units of dementia and palliative care.
Also See: How do I get an aged care certificate in Australia?
