Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement · For providers

Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement.

Aged care direct care roles are not on Australia's standard skilled occupation list. The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement opens them to aged care providers, with lower salary and English settings than standard sponsorship and a pathway to permanent residence. We guide providers through the union agreement, the labour agreement request, and each nomination and visa.

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At a glance

The agreement in short

Key facts

Who it is for: Australian aged care providers employing direct care workers.
Occupations: Aged or Disabled Carer (423111), Nursing Support Worker (423312), Personal Care Assistant (423313).
Visas: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482); Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186).
Minimum salary: AUD 51,222 guaranteed annual earnings, or the market rate if higher, full time.
English for the 482: IELTS 5.0 overall (5.0 speaking and listening, 4.5 reading and writing), or IELTS 4.5 overall for culturally and linguistically diverse providers where the worker speaks the community language.
Skills: Certificate III or equivalent, or 12 months of relevant full-time experience.
Union agreement: A Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant union gives streamlined access.
Not for: Disability sector employers, labour hire agencies, or nurses.

Streamlined access

The union Memorandum of Understanding

Providers get streamlined access to the agreement by entering into, and keeping, a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant union or unions. While it stands and the union raises no concerns, labour market testing is treated as met. The agreement expects regular consultation with the union, at least every six months. The Department names three unions for this purpose: the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, the Health Services Union and the United Workers Union.

The worker

What your care workers need

Skills

An Australian Certificate III in Individual Support or a comparable qualification, or at least 12 months of relevant full-time care experience, or the part-time equivalent.

Skills assessment

Needed if the qualification is from overseas or the worker relies on experience. ANMAC assesses Personal Care Assistants and Nursing Support Workers. Community Work Australia assesses Aged or Disabled Carers.

English

As set out above for the 482 visa, and IELTS 5.5 overall for permanent residence.

Health and character

Standard checks, plus additional health examinations for people intending to work in aged care.

Permanent residence

The path to permanent residence

Workers can be nominated for the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) after at least two years of relevant direct care work in Australia, with IELTS 5.5 overall. The age limit is 45, with no concession. The exact employment requirements are set by the agreement and checked at the time of nomination.

Process

Step by step for providers

Viability check

Approved provider status, business record, salary position and the roles you need.

Union Memorandum of Understanding

Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant union.

Request the agreement

Request the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement in ImmiAccount, with your proposed nominations for each year.

Prepare your candidates

While that is assessed, your candidates complete skills assessments and English tests.

Nominate and lodge visas

Once the agreement is signed, lodge nominations. Each worker then lodges a visa application.

Permanent residence

After two years, nominate eligible workers for permanent residence.

Watch points

Where aged care applications come unstuck

Union agreement not in place

Lodging the request before the union agreement is in place, or letting it lapse.

Wrong occupation code

Choosing an occupation code that does not match the real duties.

Experience evidence falls short

Evidence that does not meet the assessor's rules, such as unpaid or undocumented care.

Disability experience for an ANMAC assessment

ANMAC does not accept disability care experience for these codes.

Using a labour hire agency

The provider must be the employer. The agreement cannot be used through an agency.

Common questions

Aged care agreement questions

We provide both aged care and disability services. Can we use this agreement?

The agreement is for direct care workers in the aged care sector. Employers of these roles in the disability sector cannot use it. If your roles are in disability services, a Designated Area Migration Agreement may be available in your region.

Can we sponsor Registered or Enrolled Nurses under this agreement?

No. Nurses are sponsored through the standard employer sponsored pathway, because they are on the Core Skills Occupation List.

Does the worker need an Australian qualification?

No. An overseas qualification assessed as comparable, or at least 12 months of relevant full-time experience, can meet the requirement, subject to a positive skills assessment.

Who pays the costs?

All sponsorship, agreement, nomination and Skilling Australians Fund costs are paid by the provider and cannot be recovered from the worker. The agreement also prohibits charging workers for nomination or securing employment.

Next step

Tell us how many care workers you need

We will confirm your provider standing, the union step, the salary position and a realistic timeline to your first nomination.

Book a provider consultation Employer hub

Important information

The information on this page is general in nature, current as at 25 September 2026, and does not take account of your individual circumstances. It is not immigration assistance or legal advice. Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement settings, including salary and English levels, can change. The terms that apply to your business are confirmed at the time of advice under a written agreement. No agent can guarantee a visa outcome.

Migration Star, Registered Migration Agents, MARN 1797395.