How to Move to Australia as an Aged Care Worker

TL;DR

Australia urgently needs aged care workers. The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA) offers a dedicated pathway with lower English and salary thresholds. You need a Certificate III or equivalent experience, a skills assessment, and a visa — typically the subclass 482 through ACILA, or a points-tested 190 or 491.

Introduction

Australia does not have enough aged care workers. The population is ageing, minimum staffing ratios are now law, and the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety forced a sector-wide overhaul. Sector workforce estimates put the shortfall at around 110,000 additional direct care workers by 2036, and up to 400,000 by 2050.

That shortage created a real migration pathway. The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA), launched in May 2023, gives employers a way to sponsor overseas workers in aged care roles with significant concessions on salary and English requirements. Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) in regional areas offer similar access, and some also concede the standard permanent-residence age limit.

This guide covers every pathway available to aged care workers in 2026. Whether you are a personal care assistant in the Philippines, a carer in India, or a nursing support worker in Nepal, the steps are largely the same. For country-specific detail, see the Filipino aged care worker guide and the country starting points at the end of this article.

Visa Options for Aged Care Workers

Aged care occupations — ANZSCO 423111 (Aged or Disabled Carer), 423312 (Nursing Support Worker), and 423313 (Personal Care Assistant) — are not on any of Home Affairs' skilled occupation lists (MLTSSL, CSOL, STSOL or ROL). You cannot apply through standard skilled visa streams the way a software engineer or registered nurse can. Instead, your main pathways run through labour agreements and DAMAs.

Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand (via ACILA)

The subclass 482 through ACILA is the primary route. Your employer must hold an approved ACILA with the Department of Home Affairs. They nominate you for a specific aged care role, and you apply for the 482 visa under the labour agreement stream.

Key features:

• Visa duration of up to four years
• Leads to permanent residence via the subclass 186 after two years
• Lower salary and English thresholds than the standard 482 (see sections below)
• Employer must have a Memorandum of Understanding with a relevant union (UWU, HSU, or ANMF)

As at 30 June 2025, Home Affairs reported 132 Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements in effect, able to provide for more than 30,000 direct care worker positions — the number of agreements has likely grown since.

Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional

ACILA itself only supports the 482 and 186. A regional employer operating under a DAMA that includes aged care occupations can instead sponsor aged care workers on the subclass 494, a five-year provisional visa for regional areas. After three years, you may be eligible to apply for the subclass 191 for permanent residence.

Subclass 190 and 491 — Points-Tested Visas

Some states and territories include aged care occupations on their state nomination lists even when the roles sit outside the CSOL. If a state nominates you, you can apply for the subclass 190 (permanent) or the subclass 491 (provisional, leading to the 191).

These are points-tested. You need at least 65 points including the state nomination bonus. Use the points calculator to estimate your score. Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band) is the minimum for these pathways.

Skills Assessment

Before you can apply for a visa, you need a positive skills assessment against your nominated ANZSCO code.

Assessment Bodies

The assessing body depends on the occupation:

• Community Work Australia (ACWA) assesses ANZSCO 423111 (Aged or Disabled Carer) for ACILA and DAMA applications
• ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council) assesses 423312 (Nursing Support Worker) and 423313 (Personal Care Assistant) through a Direct Care Skills Assessment

What You Need

For the ACWA assessment, you must show one of the following:

• A Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33021) or an equivalent overseas qualification, or
• At least 12 months of full-time paid aged care experience (or the part-time equivalent), in Australia or overseas

You also need identity documents, employment references on letterhead with duties described, and evidence of any qualifications. If your documents are not in English, you need certified translations.

Cost

Processing times vary between the two bodies and change over time — check the current estimate on each body's own website before you rely on it. Start your skills assessment early. Processing delays are common when applications are incomplete.

Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA)

The ACILA is the single most important development for aged care migration in recent years. Here is what it means in practice.

How It Works

An aged care employer applies to the Department of Home Affairs for an ACILA. Streamlined access requires the employer to first enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the relevant industry union — Home Affairs' own labour agreement template names the United Workers Union (UWU), the Health Services Union (HSU), or the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) as the relevant unions for this sector. The MOU covers pay, conditions, and worker protections, and the employer's compliance with it is treated as satisfying the labour market testing requirement.

Once approved, the employer can nominate overseas workers for aged care roles under the 482 labour agreement stream. You apply for the visa, and if granted, you work for that employer.

ACILA Concessions

These concessions exist because aged care wages sit below the standard Core Skills Income Threshold, and the workforce shortage is acute. The salary and English concessions come from the Home Affairs aged care industry labour agreement template; individual employer agreements can vary, and some do not include a permanent residence pathway at all.

Covered Occupations

ACILA covers three ANZSCO codes:

• 423111 — Aged or Disabled Carer
• 423312 — Nursing Support Worker
• 423313 — Personal Care Assistant

Current Uptake

The number of ACILA positions Home Affairs reports (see above) is a ceiling, not a count of visas actually granted — it depends on how many positions each approved employer goes on to fill. If you are applying from overseas, expect your employer to guide you through the process closely.

DAMA Pathways

Designated Area Migration Agreements are regional deals between the government and a state, territory or regional authority. Home Affairs lists 13 active DAMAs across Australia, and aged care is a commonly included occupation, though the exact occupation list varies by agreement — check the specific DAMA before relying on it.

Key DAMA Regions for Aged Care

• Northern Territory DAMA: capped at up to 1,500 nominations a year across all occupations under the current (2025–2030) agreement, up from 625 under the previous one. Aged care is a priority sector. PR pathway via the 186 or the 494-to-191 route.
• Western Australia DAMA: covers both regional WA and Perth metro. Aged care workers must live and work two years in regional WA (or three years in Perth) before transitioning to the 186.
• Far North Queensland DAMA: covers Cairns and the surrounding region.
• Other DAMAs: Victoria (Goulburn Valley, Great South Coast) and South Australia (Adelaide City, SA Regional) also operate DAMAs that may include aged care roles. Check each DAMA's own occupation list.

DAMA Concessions

DAMA concessions vary by agreement, but commonly include:

• Reduced salary thresholds
• English as low as IELTS 5.0
• In some DAMAs, an age concession up to 55 for the 186 permanent residence pathway (unlike ACILA, which carries no age concession)
• A PR pathway through the 186 labour agreement stream or the 494-to-191 route

The trade-off: you must live and work in the specified region for the required period. If you leave, you may breach your visa conditions.

Occupation List Status

Aged care occupations (423111, 423312, 423313) do not appear on any of Home Affairs' federal skilled occupation lists — not the MLTSSL, CSOL, STSOL or ROL. This means you cannot access the standard 482, 190, or 491 streams the way a listed occupation can. Access is instead through ACILA, a DAMA, or a state nomination list that includes the occupation.

The occupation's absence from the federal lists reflects how those lists are built, not an absence of demand — the ACILA was created specifically because aged care roles needed a tailored pathway outside the standard list structure.

English Requirements

English requirements depend entirely on your visa pathway.

PTE Academic and OET are also accepted. Check the English test equivalency table for score conversions.

If you score higher than the minimum, you earn extra points on the 190 and 491. An IELTS 7.0 in each band adds 10 points. An IELTS 8.0 adds 20.

Royal Commission Reforms and Demand Drivers

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety delivered 148 recommendations. Several directly affect workforce demand:

• 24/7 Registered Nurse requirement: Since July 2023, every residential aged care home must have a Registered Nurse on site at all times. This has pushed RNs into aged care, leaving gaps in direct care roles that personal care assistants fill.
• Minimum care minutes: Since October 2024, each resident must receive 215 care minutes per day, including 44 from an RN. From April 2026, provider funding is tied to actually delivering these minutes.
• Workforce growth targets: The sector needs tens of thousands of additional workers every year through 2030. Net migration is a stated part of the solution.

These reforms are not going away. Aged care workforce demand is structural, not cyclical. For workers considering Australia, this means long-term job security.

Pay and Conditions

Aged care pay has improved significantly since 2023, through a sequence of Fair Work Commission decisions in the Aged Care Work Value Case.

Pay Increases

• 2023: an interim 15% increase to the minimum wage rates of direct care workers (Fair Work Commission decisions of November 2022 and February 2023)
• 1 January 2025: a further 3% increase under the Aged Care Award
• 1 October 2025: a further increase, varying by classification, completing the Work Value Case rise for direct care workers
• 1 July 2026: the general annual award increase of 4.75% (6% for the lowest-paid workers) applied on top

Current Rates

Penalty rates for weekend work under the Aged Care Award are time and a half on Saturday (150% of the ordinary rate) and time and three-quarters on Sunday (175%), on top of night-shift and other allowances. For the current base hourly rate at each classification level, use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) or the published Aged Care Award pay guide — rates are set by the modern award and change with each Fair Work Commission decision.

The ACILA minimum salary of AUD 51,222 is a floor, not a ceiling. Many employers pay above it, especially in regional areas competing for staff.

Cost and Timeline Overview

Costs

Your employer covers the nomination fee, which runs $330–$540 depending on employer size. You cover the visa application fee, skills assessment, and English test. If you need to complete a Certificate III in Australia, check current course fees directly with a registered training organisation (RTO) — they vary too widely to quote a single range here.

Processing Times

Home Affairs publishes current processing-time estimates for each visa subclass and stream on its processing times guide, and updates them regularly — the labour agreement stream of the 482 (which ACILA sponsorship uses) is generally slower than the visa's Core Skills stream, so check the labour agreement figure specifically rather than assuming the headline 482 time applies.

Country-by-Country Starting Points

Aged care workers come to Australia from many countries. Start with the guide closest to your situation:

• Philippines: Filipino Aged Care Worker Guide — the most detailed country guide, covering TESDA qualifications, recruitment pipelines, and the DFA apostille
• India: India to Australia Overview
• Nepal: Nepal to Australia Overview
• Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka to Australia Overview
• Philippines (general): Philippines to Australia Overview

Each country has different qualification systems, document requirements, and typical processing experiences. Start with the overview for your country, then come back here for the occupation-specific detail.

Common Refusal Reasons

Aged care visa applications fail for predictable reasons. Avoid these:

1. Insufficient qualification: Short courses under six months often do not meet the Certificate III benchmark. Ensure your qualification is assessed as equivalent before lodging.
2. Genuine position not demonstrated: The employer must show the role is real and necessary. Home Affairs scrutinises applications where the business size does not match the number of nominated workers.
3. Salary below the Core Skills Income Threshold (outside ACILA): If your employer does not hold an ACILA, the standard Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 applies. Most aged care salaries fall below this. Without an ACILA, the application will be refused.
4. Wrong ANZSCO code: The duties in your employment evidence must match the nominated ANZSCO code. A mismatch between your actual work and the code's description is a common reason for negative skills assessments.
5. Incomplete skills assessment: Missing employment references, undocumented duties, or untranslated documents cause delays and refusals.

A MARA-registered migration agent can review your application before lodgement to catch these issues.

Next Steps

1. Confirm your ANZSCO code — check whether 423111, 423312, or 423313 best fits your role and experience
2. Check your qualifications — determine whether your overseas qualification maps to the Certificate III benchmark
3. Book an English test — take a practice test first to know where you stand. See the English test guide
4. Find an ACILA employer — search for aged care providers with an active ACILA or in a DAMA region
5. Start your skills assessment — apply to ACWA or ANMAC as soon as your documents are ready
6. Get professional advice — a MARA-registered migration agent can identify the fastest pathway for your situation

Related Resources

• Filipino Aged Care Workers: How to Work in Australia
• Philippines to Australia: Complete 2026 Overview
• India to Australia: Complete 2026 Overview
• Nepal to Australia: Complete 2026 Overview
• Sri Lanka to Australia: Complete 2026 Overview
• What Is a Skills Assessment?
• How to Choose a Migration Agent
• Points Calculator

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What qualification do I need to work in aged care in Australia?

You need a Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33021) or an equivalent overseas qualification. Alternatively, at least 12 months of full-time paid aged care experience (or the part-time equivalent) can satisfy the skills assessment requirement. Most ACILA employers require the Certificate III specifically.

What is the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement?

The ACILA is a special agreement between the Australian government and aged care employers. It lets employers sponsor overseas workers at a lower salary threshold (AUD 51,222 per year) and with reduced English requirements (IELTS 5.0 overall). It covers aged and disabled carers, nursing support workers, and personal care assistants.

Can aged care workers get permanent residence?

Yes, where the ACILA (or a DAMA labour agreement) includes a permanent residence pathway — not all do. Through ACILA, that means moving from a 482 visa to the subclass 186 after 2 years of full-time employment in the role, at the standard 186 age limit (ACILA carries no age concession). The 190 and 491 points-tested visas also lead to permanent residence, and some DAMAs concede the 186 age limit up to 55.

What English score do I need as an aged care worker?

Through ACILA, you need IELTS 5.0 overall with 5.0 in Speaking and Listening, and 4.5 in Reading and Writing. For points-tested visas (190, 491), you need Competent English — IELTS 6.0 in each band. For PR via the 186, you need IELTS 5.5 overall.

How much can aged care workers earn in Australia?

Aged care pay has risen through a sequence of Fair Work Commission decisions: a 15% interim increase in 2023, a further 3% from 1 January 2025, another classification-dependent increase from 1 October 2025, and the general 4.75% (6% for the lowest-paid) award increase from 1 July 2026. For the current base rate at each classification, check the Aged Care Award pay guide directly — rates change with each decision. Weekend penalty rates are 150% on Saturday and 175% on Sunday.