Hiring Now: Senior Caregivers for Australian Aged-Care – Visa Sponsorship & PR Pathway
Australia’s aged-care system is scrambling to fill thousands of direct-care roles. To speed things up, the government introduced the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement—a special deal that lets approved providers sponsor overseas caregivers quickly and give them a two-year fast-track to permanent residency.
Australia’s ageing population means sponsored caregiver roles are here to stay—but early applicants snag the best salaries, locations and PR timeframes. If you hold the right certificate or have a year of hands-on elder-care experience, apply now to one of the sponsoring providers above and start your journey toward a secure Australian future.
Benefit of Working as Senior Caregiver in Australia
- Solid pay – senior caregivers now average AUD 60 000–82 000 a year, and weekend/overnight “shift loadings” can push total income well into the 90 k range.
- Guaranteed visa sponsorship – once an employer signs the labour agreement, they can nominate you under the new Skills-in-Demand (SID) visa (which replaced the old TSS 482) for up to four years.
- Permanent-residency pathway – complete 24 months of full-time work and the same employer can roll your sponsorship into the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), granting PR.
- Relocation help – many large providers cover initial flights, three weeks’ accommodation and the cost of transferring your overseas qualifications.
- World-class healthcare & lifestyle – universal Medicare coverage for permanent residents, 20+ vacation days, and the chance to live in safe, multicultural cities or relaxed regional towns.
Job Requirements
- Aged-care, nursing-support or personal-care certificate III (or higher) or 12 months’ paid, full-time experience
- IELTS overall 5.0 (at least 5.0 for speaking & listening, 4.5 reading/writing). Lower English scores accepted if you speak the client’s community language.
- Police clearance, basic health check and up-to-date CPR/manual-handling certificates.
- Compassion, patience and a genuine interest in supporting elderly clients.
Day-to-day duties you’ll handle
- Assist residents with daily living—bathing, dressing, meals and mobility.
- Monitor vital signs, note changes and report to nursing staff.
- Keep accurate care notes in electronic records.
- Encourage social activities that maintain dignity and independence.
- Follow strict infection-control and manual-handling procedures.
Typical earnings across the country (no shift penalties)
- New South Wales: AUD 62-72 k
- Victoria: AUD 64-75 k
- Queensland: AUD 58-68 k
- Western Australia & SA: AUD 60-70 k
Top Employers already sponsoring caregivers
- Estia Health – large residential network in QLD & SA, covers first-month rent.
- Opal HealthCare – 90+ facilities nationwide; funds SID visa fees after 12 months.
- Aegis Aged Care – leading WA provider, pays AUD 2 000 relocation bonus.
- Curtin Heritage Living (WA) – boutique homes on Perth’s coast; English-language coaching on arrival.
- Italian Village Fremantle – culturally-specific facility offering IELTS fee reimbursement.
