With aged care providers across the country reporting workforce shortages, a West Australian Not For Profit operator has employed six people from the Pacific island nation of Fiji for three years.
Capecare has been working with Brisbane recruitment company HealthX since mid-2021 to secure the Fijian staff members. The sextet is the first group of Pacific Island workers that HealthX has helped locate to WA since the McGowan State Government reopened the border last month.
Contracted for three years, the Fijian personal care workers are living on-site at the Capecare facility in Busselton, a coastal town in the state’s southwest.
“Knowing they will be here for three years will also provide our residents with consistent care,” said Capecare CEO Joanne Penman.
While working at Capecare, the Pacific Islanders will be presented with opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge in aged care. When returning home, the Fijians will be able to utilise and transfer these new skills, providing a benefit to their communities.
HealthX worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as an approved employer under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.
“This enables us to employ aged care workers from Pacific Island countries to work in regional and rural locations,” said HealthX CEO Carollyne Palling.
Last month, Ms Palling met with the Fijian Government to finalise the recruitment of around 120 Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) graduates in aged care with 21 Fijian aged care workers leaving for Australia last month.
A wonderful initiative which will benefit Capecare and seniors in Fiji.
