Delivering long-term benefts to aged care providers

The ageing population, and prevalence of chronic diseases, is putting increased pressure on the Australian health and aged care system. Over the next five years, growing demand for aged care, heightened quality requirements and workforce shortages are likely to contribute to increases in the costs of care, if we do not transition to new workforce and care models.

Founded in 2008 to solve nursing shortages across regional and remote Australia, Queensland-based HealthX is a leading health care workforce provider. The business is centred around attracting and employing highly skilled nurses and carers from overseas, to build long-term nursing capacity in regional and remote parts of Australia.

For over 15 years, HealthX has supported over one thousand international health and aged care workers to relocate to Australia to address our workforce gaps. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, in 2022, HealthX was awarded with the prestigious HESTA Award of Excellence for Outstanding Organisation, Aged Care.

As an approved employer of the Australian Government’s Pacific Australian Labour Mobility Scheme, (PALM) for aged care, HealthX is able to sponsor and employ job seekers from nine Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to work in the Australian aged care sector for up to four years.

For aged care providers, the PALM scheme delivers long- term, sustainable and affordable care solutions. For aged care residents, the natural compassion and family orientated values of our Pacific neighbours creates a uniquely warm and joyful environment.

Currently, HealthX employs over 300 PALM workers across 59 aged care homes and client partners are delighted with the quality of care that residents are receiving.

One aged care provider in New South Wales, sums it up beautifully:

“Through HealthX we have been able to secure qualified, job ready, skilled and experienced staff. HealthX supported our organisation through the entire process, keeping us fully informed. Engaging HealthX has taken the stress away from managing the recruitment of international employees including visa, transport, registrations and accommodation.
In addition, HealthX has provided us ongoing support through regular check-ups and consistent communication”.

NSW Health

All HealthX PALM aged care employees undergo a rigorous selection process as well as training in Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing).

To address the growing demand and simultaneously maintain the high standards it is known for, HealthX, together with PALM and partnering aged care facilities, has designed a unique model that enables early entry of trainee aged care workers into work.

Having completed a number of modules for the Certificate III in Individual Care in the Pacific, on arrival in Australia, PALM trainees attend an intensive residential course delivered through AMC Training and Consulting Pty Ltd, a Registered Training Organisation recently acquired by HealthX. The final modules of the Certificate III are then delivered on-the-job in the aged care home, with high levels of support from HealthX.

The ongoing 24/7 support HealthX offers employees in relation to workplace experiences, professional and personal development, community integration and social engagement is instrumental to the success of the program and secures continuity for providers and care recipients. This in turn, improves health outcomes and experience of care. A Net Promoter Score of 74 demonstrates employee satisfaction levels significantly above industry averages.

For many aged care providers, the complexity and administrative burden for participation in the PALM scheme is overwhelming and prohibitive. Through a partnership with HealthX, operators in every state and territory, from small single-site providers to national multi-site not-for-profit providers, are able to benefit from the scheme.

For further information or to register your interest visit www.healthx.com.au

• For training enquiries in aged care contact: Andrew Small: asmall@healthx.com.au
• For workforce solutions in health care, please contact: Siobhan Ruri: sruri@healthx.com.au
• For media enquiries, please contact: Jennifer Cameron: j.cameron@healthx.com.au