Warrigal recruits Pacific Islanders to plug staff shortfall
Aged care provider Warrigal has welcomed Pacific Island staff to its sites in country New South Wakes.
Aged care and retirement living provider Warrigal has welcomed Pacific Island staff to its sites in country New South Wales.
The overseas workers have joined Warrigal under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme. Warrigal registered as a PALM-approved employer in 2018 due to an inability to fill vacant positions for aged care workers in its facilities across the Southern Highlands and Queanbeyan.
“The loss of visa holders seeking work or higher education during the pandemic has created significant gaps in the aged care staffing levels,” Warrigal CEO Mark Sewell told Australian Ageing Agenda. “This program allows for upskilling staff from the Pacific Islands, and in return provides the staff we need to care for our residents.”
The PALM scheme is the Australian Government’s new integrated approach to Pacific labour mobility. It consolidates the Pacific Labour Scheme and the Seasonal Worker Program into a single, streamlined arrangement.
Managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the PALM scheme aims to provide both seasonal and long-term worker streams under a single visa.
Originally intending to work at Warrigal for three years, due to the pandemic and border closures, the Pacific Islanders’ visas have been extended to four years. The workers are from Kiribati, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tuvalu.
The Pacific Island staff are working across Warrigal’s aged care homes in regional NSW at Bunadoon, Goulburn and Queanbeyan.
When they arrive at a Warrigal site they participate in an induction program, Mr Sewell told AAA. “They all participate in our WOW program – Warrigal Onboarding Week – where they receive training in Warrigal’s philosophies and policies, as well as general aged care training, infection management, and the use of our other care systems.”
Warrigal is currently waiting for formal approval from DFAT to allow recruitment into its Illawarra aged care homes in Wollongong, Shellharbour and Albion Park.
“While we are struggling to find enough staff from the local labour market, we will continue to utilise the PALM scheme to help us provide the necessary care for residents,” said Mr Sewell.
Main image: Warrigal’s Pacific Islander recruits arrive in Australia
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I am a Papua New Guinea social worker and am interested in doing different job inline with the humanity career. How should I express my interest.
Please ,your response will be very much appreciated.
Regards
Preston Demark
Interested volunteer
CMNLSTC PNG
I have about twenty ladies from Papua New Guinea interested to participate in the PALMS Scheme especially in age care. Please send us information to apply.
Sm very interested to join .please send me information and information on how I can be part of the Team.
I’m a Fiji citizen
APTC graduates in certicate 3 in age care
Already applied for NEC, but still waiting
There are 6 of us in the same village, all APTC graduates.
Right now the country are recruiting meat workers and hospitality
How can you help us
I’m just graduated in music level 4
And I’m kindly asking for ur help for my job ..I need this job to help my family
I am from Papua New and I hold a certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) from Queensford College in Adelaide, South Australia. I’ve done my placement in St.Halreen Aged Care Agencies in Seaton, Adelaide, South Australia and also have a year hands on experience in looking after elderly people. Right now, our country are recruiting meat workers and fruit pickers. How can I apply for Aged Care role in Age Care facilities, please send me information to apply for this.
Thank you.