Australia’s aged care sector continues to recruit internationally because demand for qualified and dependable care workers is growing across residential aged care (nursing homes), home care, and community services. For many overseas applicants, the practical pathway is employer sponsorship—where an approved Australian employer nominates you for a work visa (and, in some cases, later supports permanent residency).
This guide explains (1) which aged care roles are commonly sponsored, (2) the key requirements employers expect, (3) the main visa pathways used in aged care sponsorship, and (4) realistic pay ranges based on Australia’s official minimum award rates as of late 2025.
1) What “visa sponsorship” means in aged care
In Australia, “visa sponsorship” usually means:
- An Australian employer is approved to sponsor overseas workers.
- The employer nominates you for a specific occupation and position.
- You apply for the linked visa (temporary or permanent), and—if granted—you work for that sponsoring employer under visa conditions.
For aged care roles, sponsorship happens through mainstream employer-sponsored visas (like subclass 482 and 494) and, importantly for care roles, through labour agreement arrangements designed to address workforce shortages in specific industries. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
2) Which aged care jobs are most likely to be sponsored
Aged care job titles vary by employer, but commonly include:
- Personal Care Assistant (PCA) / Personal Care Worker (PCW)
- Aged Care Worker
- Assistant in Nursing (AIN) / Nursing Support Worker
- Home Care Support Worker
- Disability Support Worker (often overlaps, but not always “aged care”)
- Enrolled Nurse (EN) / Registered Nurse (RN) in aged care
Australia’s official occupation profiles describe core tasks for “Aged and Disabled Carers” such as assisting with mobility, personal hygiene, meal prep, companionship, and daily activities. (Jobs and Skills Australia)
Also, major job boards show a large volume of “aged care worker visa sponsorship” listings at any given time (this changes week to week). (SEEK Australia)
3) The main visa pathways used for aged care sponsorship
A) Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) – employer-sponsored temporary work visa
Subclass 482 is the primary employer-sponsored temporary visa and is now branded as the Skills in Demand visa on the Department of Home Affairs website. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
482 has multiple streams (such as Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Labour Agreement). For many aged care workers—especially care assistants—the Labour Agreement stream is the most relevant because it can cover roles and settings that may not fit standard skilled thresholds. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
English is a key requirement for most applicants, with specific rules and exemptions described by Home Affairs. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
B) Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) – permanent residency (PR)
Subclass 186 is a permanent visa where an employer nominates you for a skilled role and you meet visa criteria (skills, health/character, and other requirements). (Immigration and citizenship Website)
There is also a Labour Agreement stream under the 186 visa, used where an employer operates under a labour agreement. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
C) Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) – regional pathway
Subclass 494 allows approved regional employers to sponsor skilled workers for roles in designated regional areas. Requirements typically include nomination, being in an eligible occupation list, and meeting experience/skills requirements. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
D) Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA)
Australia has an Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement framework intended to help providers sponsor overseas direct care workers for the aged care sector. The Home Affairs site lists this as an industry labour agreement type. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
This matters because it can explicitly support sponsorship into core care roles (depending on the agreement terms and employer eligibility), and it interacts with the 482 Labour Agreement stream (and may also support PR pathways through the 186 Labour Agreement stream). (Immigration and citizenship Website)
E) Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) – regional concessions
DAMAs are formal arrangements between the Australian Government and a regional/state authority, giving employers in certain regions access to additional occupations and concessions in response to local labour shortages. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
4) Core requirements to get an aged care job with sponsorship
Employers and visa programs differ, but in practice successful candidates usually meet both:
- job-readiness requirements (what a provider needs to safely employ you), and
- visa eligibility requirements (what Home Affairs requires).
A) Qualifications (what employers typically ask for)
Common expectations include:
- Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) or equivalent (or willingness to obtain it in Australia, depending on role/employer)
- For nursing roles: recognized nursing qualification and registration pathway (role-dependent)
Employers may still hire entry-level candidates for some roles, but sponsorship decisions tend to favour applicants who already demonstrate training aligned to aged care tasks and safety.
B) Relevant experience and references
For employer-sponsored visas, Home Affairs pathways commonly require demonstrated capacity to perform the role. For regional subclass 494, Home Affairs explicitly indicates at least 3 years of relevant work experience for the employer-sponsored stream. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
For subclass 482, requirements vary by stream and nominated occupation; always check the specific stream rules and any labour agreement conditions. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
C) English language ability
Most applicants must show English proficiency for subclass 482 unless an exemption applies, and Home Affairs sets out the rules and acceptable test pathways. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
In aged care, employers also prioritise English because the role involves medication support (where relevant), incident reporting, handovers, and sensitive communication with older people and families.
D) Health, character, and safety checks
Employer-sponsored visas generally require health and character checks. This is explicitly stated across major visa categories like 186 and 494. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
Separately, aged care employers commonly require job-related screening such as police checks and other clearances based on your location and role scope.
E) Soft skills that heavily influence sponsorship decisions
Sponsorship is expensive and compliance-heavy for employers. The candidates most likely to be sponsored typically demonstrate:
- reliability and strong attendance record
- genuine caregiving mindset (patient, calm under pressure)
- documentation discipline (accurate notes and incident reporting)
- ability to work rotating shifts (including weekends and nights)
5) Pay and salary expectations in Australian aged care (official minimums + what you actually see)
Important context: “Award wages” vs actual pay
In Australia, many aged care jobs are covered by modern awards (industry pay frameworks) or enterprise agreements. Award rates are legal minimums—some employers pay above them.
As of late 2025, the Australian Government has issued guidance related to wage increases connected to the Fair Work Commission’s Aged Care Work Value Case (ACWVC), including changes effective 1 October 2025.
A) Minimum hourly rates (from 1 October 2025) — Residential aged care direct care
From the Australian Government guidance document, the new minimum hourly award rates for direct care classifications in residential aged care (Aged Care Award) effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 October 2025 include:
| Role level (Direct Care) | New hourly rate (from 1 Oct 2025) |
|---|---|
| Level 1 (Introductory) | AUD $31.13/hr |
| Level 2 (Direct Carer) | AUD $32.86/hr |
| Level 3 (Qualified) | AUD $34.59/hr |
| Level 4 (Senior) | AUD $35.97/hr |
| Level 5 (Specialist) | AUD $37.35/hr |
| Level 6 (Team Leader) | AUD $38.74/hr |
These are base minimums before penalties/allowances that may apply for nights, weekends, overtime, and public holidays (depending on your award/agreement conditions).
B) Minimum hourly rates — Home care (aged care employees)
The same guidance document includes minimum award rates for home care aged care employees (Schedule F of SCHADS) from 1 October 2025:
| Home care level (Aged care) | New hourly rate (from 1 Oct 2025) |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | AUD $31.13/hr |
| Level 2 | AUD $32.86/hr |
| Level 3 | AUD $34.59/hr |
| Level 4 | AUD $35.97/hr |
| Level 5 | AUD $37.35/hr |
| Level 6 | AUD $38.74/hr |
C) Minimum hourly rates — Enrolled Nurses and Registered Nurses in aged care
For nurses employed in aged care, the government guidance includes updated hourly rates from 1 October 2025 (Nurses Award aged-care-employed nurses), for example:
- Enrolled nurse supervising other direct care employees: AUD $37.09/hr
- Registered nurse Level 1 (1st year): AUD $38.07/hr
- Registered nurse Level 2 (completion of 3 years): AUD $49.48/hr
- Registered nurse Level 5: AUD $66.91/hr
(Your exact pay depends on classification level, years, and the applicable industrial instrument.)
D) What you can realistically expect as “take-home” pay
Your actual weekly/monthly income depends on:
- hours worked (part-time vs full-time)
- penalties (weekends, nights, public holidays)
- overtime patterns
- location (metro vs regional)
- employer agreement (award-only vs enterprise agreement)
- salary packaging (common in not-for-profit aged care)
A safe planning approach is:
- Use the award minimums above as a floor, then
- Add a buffer for penalties only if you already know your likely roster pattern.
6) Where to find genuine aged care visa sponsorship jobs
Use employer channels plus major job boards. In practice:
- Major job boards (filter: “visa sponsorship”)
SEEK frequently lists large volumes of aged care visa sponsorship roles. (SEEK Australia) - Aged care providers’ careers pages
Many large providers advertise directly and may indicate whether sponsorship is available. - Regional employers and workforce programs
Regional employers sometimes have stronger need and may be more open to sponsorship pathways (including regional visas such as 494). (Immigration and citizenship Website) - Labour agreement pathways through eligible providers
For care roles that fall under an aged care industry labour agreement framework, focus on employers who are eligible and actively using that channel. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
7) A practical step-by-step plan to improve your chances of sponsorship
- Choose a target role and setting
- Residential aged care direct care vs home care vs nursing pathway.
- Align your training
- If you’re targeting care assistant roles: structure your CV around personal care, manual handling, infection control, dementia support, and documentation.
- Prepare sponsorship-ready documents
- Detailed CV, verifiable references, training certificates, police clearance (where available), and an English test result if needed.
- Apply strategically
- Prioritise roles that explicitly mention sponsorship and employers in high-demand regions.
- Interview like a “risk-managed hire”
- Employers sponsoring visas are reducing risk. Demonstrate compliance mindset, stability, and willingness to work shifts.
- Understand the visa pathway attached to the offer
- Ask (professionally) whether the employer intends to nominate under subclass 482, 494, or via a labour agreement stream—then verify eligibility on the Home Affairs website pages for that visa type. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
Conclusion
Aged care remains one of Australia’s most accessible pathways for overseas candidates who are genuinely prepared for hands-on care work—especially through employer sponsorship structures and industry-specific labour agreement arrangements. To succeed, treat it as a two-track process: meet the job requirements (skills, safety, communication) and meet the visa requirements (English, experience where required, health/character).
On pay, Australia’s official minimum award rates for direct care roles in residential aged care from 1 October 2025 sit around AUD $31.13 to $38.74 per hour depending on classification, with home care rates in a similar band for aged care classifications, and higher rates for nurses depending on level.
If you want, I can tailor a sponsorship-focused checklist to your profile (your current qualification, years of experience, and whether you prefer residential aged care, home care, or nursing).
FAQs
1) Can I get visa sponsorship for aged care jobs in Australia without a degree?
Yes. Many direct care roles are not degree-based. However, employers typically expect relevant vocational training (or equivalent experience), strong English, and evidence you can work safely with older people. Visa pathways may still require specific experience or conditions depending on the stream and employer agreement. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
2) Which visa is most common for aged care sponsorship?
For temporary sponsorship, subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) is a key employer-sponsored option, including its Labour Agreement stream where applicable. Regional employers may use subclass 494. For permanent residency, employers may nominate under subclass 186 (including the labour agreement stream where relevant). (Immigration and citizenship Website)
3) What is the minimum pay for aged care workers in Australia?
Minimums depend on your classification and whether you are in residential aged care or home care. Government guidance tied to award wage increases effective 1 October 2025 shows residential aged care direct care minimums from AUD $31.13/hr (Level 1) up to AUD $38.74/hr (Level 6 Team Leader), with comparable aged care home care levels listed.
4) Do I need an English test (IELTS/PTE) for sponsorship?
Often, yes—particularly for subclass 482, unless an exemption applies. Home Affairs sets the English rules for the visa, and employers may also assess communication ability for safe care delivery. (Immigration and citizenship Website)
5) Are aged care labour agreements real and official?
Yes. Home Affairs publishes information about industry labour agreements, including aged care arrangements, and the labour agreement stream is an official pathway under subclass 482 (and also exists under subclass 186). (Immigration and citizenship Website)