Pacific Islands could fill Aged Care employee gap [1]
Friday, September 7, 2018 - 16:14
Skilled employees from Pacific Island countries could fill a looming severe shortage of aged care workers in Australia and New Zealand, says a new World Bank report released yesterday, 6 September.
As the demand for aged care increases in these countries, their existing services may not be able to deliver the quantity and quality care needed over the coming decades.
The report Expanding Pathways for Pacific Islanders in the Australian and New Zealand Aged Care Sectors [2], suggests a model that uses both new and existing migration pathways such as the Pacific Labour Scheme, to deliver more skilled workers. It also outlines the expected labour requirements of aged care providers; and determines the steps required for Pacific Island countries to supply the relevant skills sets.
World Bank’s Country Director for Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands, Michel Kerf, said the study highlights another sector where growing needs can be met with a young, educated and enthusiastic Pacific workforce.
“We hope this report can be used as a tool for policy makers to find ways in which workers from the Pacific can effectively engage in the Australian and New Zealand aged care sectors.
The release of the report follows the rollout of Australia’s new Pacific Labour Scheme for Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, which will open up jobs for Pacific Islanders in sectors beyond agriculture, including aged care.
“This is a positive move that will further strengthen our region’s close ties, and one that will provide life-changing benefits to thousands of Pacific families,” said Kerf.
In Australia, there are currently 366,000 aged care workers with this number expected to increase to between 830,000 and 1.3 million by 2050. Similarly, New Zealand’s aged care workforce is expected to grow by 50 to 75 percent in the next 15 years.
Pacific Island countries, on the other hand, face growing populations with a ‘youth bulge’ of young people looking for work. For Pacific Island countries with constraints in economic growth, expanded employment opportunities in Australia and New Zealand could deliver a win-win situation for workers and employers.
The report made key observations to ensure the potential benefits of employing more Pacific Islanders in aged care roles are realised.
One is for both countries to engage aged care industry groups and workers in the rollout and design of the new preferential Pacific labor migration pathways.
In New Zealand, the report suggested it create where feasible, specific pathways for migrants to enter the aged care sector beyond the broad access points (Essential Skills visa policy, Pacific Access Category etc.).
And Australia, should expand the Pacific Labour Scheme by removing annual caps and broadening the scheme to other participating countries in the Pacific, creating critical opportunities for aged care workers.