The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has urged the Government to consider offering permanent residency to migrants working in essential sectors such as aged care – but the sector is not currently included on the Federal Government’s preferred migrant skills list.
FECCA Chair Mary Patetsos (pictured giving evidence to the Royal Commission last year, and who also chairs the board of SA-based aged care provider ACH Group) says public trust in the sector will only be regained if aged care workers – many of whom are from migrant backgrounds and work on a casual basis – were well trained and directly employed.
Australia has now recorded 1,949 COVID cases in aged care and 554 deaths, mostly in Victoria.
“It is shortsighted to leave the responsibility of caring for vulnerable older persons to migrant workers who are themselves vulnerable without a clear pathway to permanent residency or citizenship,” she said.
“Canada has just announced it will offer permanent residency to asylum seekers who have worked on that country’s coronavirus healthcare frontline, including aged care.”
“The Australian Government should consider offering permanent residency to our frontline workers with a requirement that they work in essential sectors such as health, aged and disability (care) for a minimum of three years as a condition.”
The Department of Home Affairs announced last week they had developed a priority list for people with critical skills who could come to Australia on employer-sponsored programs including nurses and midwives – but it does not include aged care workers.
“The Government will continue to review the immigration settings to ensure they are best placed to support Australia’s economic recovery,” their spokesperson said.
