PR for Aged Care Workers in Australia

Sometimes, employment opportunities can be scarce in your home country, or the compensation isn’t enough. The good news is that, regardless of your undergraduate degree, you can be an aged care worker in Australia.

If caring for the elderly comes naturally to you, then this article will help you understand the PR requirements for aged care workers in Australia.

Recent Changes for Aged Care Workers (2025)

Note Change in Policy:

As of November 1, 2025, the new Aged Care Act stipulates greater standards and checks for all aged care workers. You must also have the right qualifications, skills and experience – new worker screening criteria apply.

AGED CARE: October 1, 2025 Workers in aged care received some of the biggest pay rises since they are one of the lowest paid industries. As new minimum rates from that date were set to $31.13-$34.59 per hour for direct carers, with workers holding a Certificate III now earning $34.59/hour – at least!

What are the duties of an aged care worker in Australia?

Direct care workers in Australia offer essential assistance to elderly individuals. They aid them in various daily tasks and activities, including helping with meals, bathing, dressing, and maintaining cleanliness and organisation in their living spaces.

Their role extends to providing emotional support and companionship for their patients’ overall well-being and comfort. Aged care workers may operate either within clients’ homes or within residential care facilities. Direct care occupations include:

Note: Australia introduced new occupation classifications (OSCA) in 2024, but ANZSCO codes remain the standard for visa applications.

• Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111)
• Nursing Support Worker (ANZSCO 423312)
• Personal Care Assistant (ANZSCO 423313)

New Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement

The New Aged Care Labour Agreement allows for aged care industry providers to recruit appropriately skilled and qualified direct care workers from overseas. The key terms and concessions in this new agreement include:

• Access a two-year pathway to permanent residency in Australia via the subclass 186 or Employer Nomination Scheme visas, including reduced visa application charges and priority processing of your visa application under the Labour Agreement.
• Streamlined visa nomination and prioritised visa application processing
• No post-qualification work experience required
• Lower English language requirements for workers with relevant community language skills: IELTS 4.5 overall for culturally diverse providers, compared to the standard IELTS 5.0 overall requirement
• Annual salary must be at least $AU51,222 or the Australian Market Salary Rate, where it is higher. Note: Actual aged care wages have increased significantly in 2025 with new award rates of $31.13-$34.59 per hour.

PR Pathways for Aged Care Workers in Australia

There are two pathways for aged care workers in Australia. The first one is the two-year PR pathway, and the other one is the TSS 482 Visa.

1. Two-Year PR Pathway

• Workers must have at least two (2) years of full-time work experience within Australia from a relevant direct care occupation.
• That two (2) years of work experience do not have to be tied to a particular employer or visa subclass.
• IELTS score of no less than 5.5 (or equivalent) with no component minimum for ENS 186 permanent visa applications.
• Annual salary of at least AU$51,222 or the Australian Market Salary Rate, whichever is higher.

2. TSS 482 Visa:

• Aged care workers are allowed to live and study in Australia for up to four (4) years.
• After two (2) years of full-time work experience, they can apply for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186).

3. Temporary Skill Shortage Subclass 482 Visa

The temporary skill shortage subclass 482 Visa is commonly known as TSS 482 visa and enables skilled individuals to work in Australia for employers who cannot find Australian workers for the role.

Before being allowed to sponsor overseas workers, the Australian employer must first show that they have exhausted their means to find an Australian employee but that the position still remains vacant. Skills assessment may also be required for a TSS application.

4. Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 Visa

The ENS visa allows the applicant to work and permanently reside in Australia. The applicant must be nominated by an Australian employer, be skilled in the nominated occupation, and satisfy the required health and character checks.

Benefits of Working in Australia’s Aged Care Industry

If you see yourself waking up each day and doing something positive and worthwhile for someone who’s been incapacitated due to old age, then a job in the Aged Care Industry might be perfect for you.

This is the kind of job that allows you to care for other people, which can be fulfilling. Caring for the aged can make positive impacts on their lives. You can have conversations with them over a cup of tea or join them for a simple walk in the facility garden.

You will meet diverse people from various walks of life and provide emotional support and companionship. These people have had many interesting life experiences, and you will also gain continuous learning through professional and personal development.

In addition, working in Australia as an aged care worker means you have job security and growth in a beautiful and progressive country. Australia needs at least 110,000 additional direct aged care workers over the next decade, making this one of the fastest-growing employment sectors.

Requirements for Aged Care Workers

The following are the requirements for those who are interested in applying as Aged Care Workers and becoming permanent residents:

• You must hold a relevant AQF Certificate III, its equivalent, or higher. You can also have 12 months’ worth of relevant job experience or part-time equivalence in lieu of the qualification.
• You must obtain a positive skills assessment from either the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council or, if you acquired your qualifications overseas, the Australian Community Workers Association. This is also applicable if you claim work experience in place of the formal qualifications. Skills assessment fee: $595 (current as of 2025).
• You must have an English language proficiency level of at least IELTS 5.0 or its equivalent (no component minimum for Labour Agreement positions). Those who are with the target community language skills employed by aged care providers with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds need at least IELTS 4.5 or equivalent. An IELTS of 5.5 or equivalent is required for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.
• For workers who obtained sponsorship under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa, have at least two years of relevant work experience in Australia in a direct care occupation. The two (2) years of work experience are not necessarily tied to a certain employer or subclass.

From November 2025: Meet revised worker screening requirements under the new Aged Care Act

Getting Help from a Migration Agent for Your PR Processing

Working in the aged care sector can be a fulfilling career. With the right qualifications and complete requirements, you will be given the opportunity to not just work in Australia with a competitive salary, but also live Down Under permanently.

As of 2025, 13 approved aged care facilities have active labour agreements, with priority visa processing available under Labour Agreement arrangements.

If you are qualified and find in your heart that you would like to work in the Aged Care Industry in Australia, but find it challenging to even get started with the process, don’t hesitate to ask for help from the right Australian migration agency.

At Parish Patience, our visa lawyers are highly knowledgeable of Australian immigration laws and are more than happy to assist you with the PR process.

Contact us at +61(02) 9286 8700 or send us an email at ppmail@ppilaw.com.au.