There are many misconceptions when it comes to finding and hiring carers for the aged care sector from overseas. 

Many aged care providers are currently facing the difficult situation of having overwhelming demand for support from the community but too few skilled carers to fulfil requirements. 

It is predicted by 2030, there will be a shortfall of at least 110,000 direct-care staff in Australia. 

When the available local talent pool fails to fill current roles, an alternative solution is to look overseas for skilled carers. Hiring international carers is not as complex as many perceive it to be. 

Here are some common misconceptions about hiring from overseas and why they are incorrect.

Hiring aged care carers from overseas costs too much

Yes, there are costs involved with finding job applicants from overseas but sourcing any staff will cost money. If you have an immigration partner with industry experience who will walk you through the process, you’ll find it to be cost-effective. 

Instead of costs, think about investment and returns. If you invest in the right talent, it’s likely they will stay loyal to your organisation, which will save you from relying on agencies or repeatedly having to advertise to fill the same role. 

For transparency, the costs of hiring an international care worker starts from 20-25% of their salary package or approximately 30k in all-inclusive. This covers the cost of visas, application ad relocation fees as well as professional support. In comparison, the cost of hiring an aged care worker here in Australia can be approximately between $20k and $30k, with no assurance of actually finding or retaining them.

The cost of hiring at home vs hiring from overseas can be relatively similar, however if you hire someone from overseas, you can expect better engagement and longevity with your business. 

Hiring from overseas takes too long

The time it takes between commencing the hiring process and welcoming your new team member through the door can be as little as four to five months, especially if you have spent time on workforce planning and know which roles you need to recruit for. 

At Global Talent Agency, we achieve this for our clients because we have a steady stream of ready-and-waiting applicants. We have already vetted their experience and are waiting to match them with roles. In addition to this, we work closely with our clients to forward-plan and consider future workforce requirements. 

Hiring from overseas is too difficult

Filling a role with a migrant worker doesn’t feel complex for someone who has experience in the area. When you apply a proven framework for attracting, preparing, recruiting, onboarding and settling candidates specifically for aged care providers, the process becomes more streamlined. 

Partner with an organisation who has a clear understanding of how to attract suitable candidates, is able to support the immigration process and helps with settlement and onboarding. It will feel easy because the hard work is done for you, and you will ultimately improve retention and engagement with your care team.

 

Cultural barriers detract from the experience

Australia is a multicultural community, and a large percentage of the population is advancing in age. Instead of creating culture gaps, recruiting from overseas can help to close them.

With this being said, finding a cultural common ground does take time. This is why we offer support while people settle into their new country as well as their new role. 

Overseas aged care carers only stay for one or two years

This is not the case. We have found after placing hundreds of international care workers with dozens of providers, when people are engaged in work they are passionate about, are supported in their workplace, and are part of an inclusive community, they are happier, healthier and more fulfilled. As a result, they will remain with their employer for longer. 

Our retention rate for the people we place reflects best-in-industry of 80-90% per cent. Our program expectation is the employees we place stay with their organisation for a minimum of three years.

As your immigration partner, we take a long-term approach to resolving Australia’s aged care worker shortage, and aim to fulfil dreams and ambitions for the individuals we help to onboard. See how we are providing staffing strategies to meet the new aged care minutes.