25,000 fewer immigrants predicted for 2017-18 – aged care and home care providers to take the hit

Australia’s migrant intake is forecast to be just 165,000 this year – the lowest level in seven years – led by cuts in the number of skilled and sponsored working visas. The main falls have been across employer-sponsored visas, which have fallen from 22,843 to 16,047 this financial year, driven largely by changes to the 457 visa regime. Overseas-born workers are a major contributor to the aged care workforce, with last year’s Senate References Committee report estimating foreign-born staff make up 32% of aged care workers and 23% of home care workers. What then for providers looking to recruit more staff?