If you are planning to work in the healthcare sector of Australia, then it’s a great choice, as this is the field that has consistent and long-term demand. Australia’s hospitals, aged care facilities and clinics are all on the lookout for skilled health professionals to fill their ongoing staff shortages.
This need is a great opportunity for migrants to secure a job in the healthcare sector of Australia, as well as to get a permanent residency if they meet all eligibility requirements.
Let’s examine the kinds of healthcare positions that are in high demand right now and the ways through which eligible applicants can relocate and find employment in Australia.
Healthcare Jobs in Australia that Are In-demand
Here is a list of some popular and in-demand health care jobs in Australia right now. Employer-sponsored programmes and skilled migration often include all of these professions.
- Registered Nurse
- General Practitioner
- Occupational Therapist
- Dentist
- Medical Laboratory Technician
Key Migration Pathways for Healthcare Professionals
The Australian Government has a number of different migration paths to bring in skilled health professionals. As a result, it becomes easier for foreign healthcare professionals to come and settle in the country.
1. Employer-Sponsored Visas
If you have an offer letter to work with an Australian company before coming to Australia, this is your best option to apply for an Employer-Sponsored Visa. Apart from sponsoring you, an Australian employer can also help you with visa paperwork, so those Health Care Workers who wish to begin their working careers quickly will benefit from this option. Furthermore, if you meet particular criteria and work for a specific year with an employer, you can also open a path to receive your Permanent Residency. Some Employment-Sponsored Visa options include:
- Employer Nomination Scheme (SC 186): It is a permanent visa granted to skilled workers nominated by Australian employers.
- Skills in Demand Visa (SC 482): It is a temporary visa for workers to fill in-demand roles.
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Visa (SC 494): It is a five-year provisional visa for regional skilled occupations. After working in a regional area for three years, it can lead to permanent residency.
2. Regional Migration and DAMA Pathways
The health industry in Australia’s regional areas is currently experiencing high demand for health care workers. To support that demand, programs such as Designated Areas Migration Agreements (DAMAs) have been implemented by the Australian government.
DAMA offers more concessions in age, language and work experience compared with the normal visa requirements. In this, skilled individuals can live and work in the less populated regional areas of Australia. Therefore, if you are ok to live in a small city rather than a metro, then DAMA becomes the right choice for you.
3. Skilled Migration Visas
This pathway applies a points-based visa system that scores applicants based on things like their education, work experience and English skills. Thus, the number of points you can get also determines your chances of securing a visa. You can then arrive in Australia and begin looking for a job as soon as you receive it. This GSM pathway allows you to pick any place to live and work.
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent): This visa is a points-based visa and enables highly skilled medical professionals to live and work permanently in Australia, anywhere they choose, without a sponsor.
- Subclass 190 (State Nominated): This is also a permanent visa, but it needs to be nominated by a state, and you have to live for 2 years in that nominated state.
- Subclass 491 (Regional Skilled Work Visa): This Visa is for 5 years, and during this time, you can live and work in the designated regional area. After at least 3 years of regional residence, applicants become eligible for permanent residency.
General Considerations for Migrating as a Healthcare Professional to Australia
While there will be specific requirements necessary for obtaining each visa type, here are some common requirements that all healthcare professionals seeking to work and live in Australia must meet.
All healthcare professionals need:
- A positive skills assessment from the appropriate assessing agency
- Particular English language score from approved tests
- Relevant qualifications and work experience
- Registration with the appropriate Australian regulatory body
- Medical and background clearance
Final Thoughts
With Australia’s growing need and demand within the healthcare sector, there are now many options open to migrant workers. Pathways such as Employer Sponsored, Skilled Migration, and DAMA make it possible for anyone to come to Australia and work within Australia in the healthcare sector. But to be eligible to apply for any of these visa subclasses, applicants must have satisfied every small eligibility requirement and condition set by that subclass to get successful approval.
So, before applying for a healthcare occupation in Australia, it is a good idea to seek assistance from the best registered migration agent in Australia, as this will help you in finding the best possible visa options, eligibility criteria and long-term settlement opportunities.