Internationally recruited staff at Northern Beaches Hospital get a lifeline after the Association asks for government intervention.
Advocacy by the NSWNMA has helped to secure offers of permanent residency and other visa support for about 80 internationally recruited nurses and midwives at Northern Beaches Hospital (NBH).
The visa status of these NSWNMA members was put in doubt by the state government’s decision to take over NBH from Healthscope.
They have been working on Healthscope-sponsored temporary visas known as skills in demand
482 visas.
Healthscope’s sponsorship typically came with guarantees to support permanent residency in Australia.
The NSWNMA asked Health Minister Ryan Park for help to ensure visa sponsorship is transferred to NSW Health, with offers of permanent residency where appropriate.
Northern Sydney Local Health District later advised all NBH visa holders that NSW Health would take over management of their 482 visas.
It would also “support eligible employees to obtain permanent residency, so you and your families can build a stable future in Australia.”
A letter from the LHD said, “We want you to stay. Your skills, compassion and dedication – especially as nurses and frontline healthcare professionals – are deeply appreciated.”
The LHD described visa holders as “an essential part of our workforce”, adding: “Please know that supporting you through this transition is a priority for us. We are committed to working closely with you to ensure continuity of your employment and your immigration pathway.”
“Thank you for the incredible work you do each day, and for the heart you bring to our patients and our community. We are grateful to have you with us and look forward to supporting your continued journey here in New South Wales.”
The LHD said it had engaged an immigration lawyer “to ensure a seamless process”.
NSWNMA branch president at NBH, Sheridan Brady, said the offer was “a big win” for members with work visas.
“There were about 80 members whose futures were in doubt, so, the announcement by the LHD was something really positive,” she said.
The Association is continuing to advocate for about a quarter of the internationally recruited nurses and midwives whose temporary visas are due to expire soon.
In a letter to Immigration Minister Tony Burke, the NSWNMA asked for help – including with bridging visas – to ensure these employees can lawfully continue working for the hospital under Northern Sydney LHD.
The 482 visa typically allows the holder to work in Australia for up to four years.
It also provides what the Department of Home Affairs calls “a clear pathway to permanent residency, offering greater certainty for both migrants and sponsoring employers.”
However, Healthscope employed some nurses on 12-month 482 visas with an offer to support their permanent residency applications after a six-month probationary period.