Migrant Care Workers or Migrants Working in Long-Term Care? A Review of Australian Experience

Abstract

Discussion of the role of migrant care workers in long-term care (LTC) that has gained increasing attention in the United States and other developed countries in recent years is of particular relevance to Australia, where 24% of the total population is overseas-born, two-thirds of them coming from countries where English is not the primary language. Issues of interest arise regarding meeting LTC workforce demands in general and responding to the particular cultural and linguistic needs of postwar immigrants who are now reaching old age in increasing numbers. This review begins with an account of the overseas-born components of the aged care workforce and then examines this representation with reference to the four factors identified as shaping international flows of care workers in the comparative study carried out for the AARP Public Policy Institute in 2005: migration policies, LTC financing arrangements, worker recruitment and training, and credentialing. The ways in which these factors play out in Australia mean that while overseas-born workers are overrepresented in the LTC workforce, migrant care workers are not identifiable as a marginalized group experiencing disadvantage in employment conditions, nor do they offer a solution to workforce shortages. The Australian experience is different from those of other countries in many respects, but it does show that the experience of migrant care workers is not unique to LTC and points to the need to extend the search for solutions to workforce shortages and improving conditions of all care workers well beyond LTC systems to wider policy settings.

A viable care migration programme for Australia's ageing population: Recruiting migrant personal care workers for Australian aged care

“…Hugo (:59) cautioned that “(e)mployers will always have a “demand” for foreign workers if it results in a lowering of their costs.” The issue of care worker shortages and subsequent demand for migrant carers reflects state care regimes and national employment models, and ultimately the value attributed to care (Simonazzi :212; van Hooren :133). Indeed, Anna Howe argued that MPCWs are not a solution to aged care workforce shortages, and that attracting local workers to care work can be accomplished through workforce solutions including improving conditions, and addressing broader social and economic policies which affect workers in other low‐skill work sectors (:374, 389).…”

“…They were followed by flows from Asian countries including Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, India and the Philippines. Carers have also arrived from a variety of other countries including New Zealand and Fiji (Howe :377). Recent migrants working as PCWs may include international students, secondary visa holders (family members of primary visa holders), humanitarian, family or working holiday entrants (see Hugo :180; Howe :388; Mavromaras et al :19).…”

“…Carers have also arrived from a variety of other countries including New Zealand and Fiji (Howe :377). Recent migrants working as PCWs may include international students, secondary visa holders (family members of primary visa holders), humanitarian, family or working holiday entrants (see Hugo :180; Howe :388; Mavromaras et al :19). International students currently play a significant role in aged care (see Pillinger :14; ACSA (Aged and Community Services Australia) and LASA (Leading Age Services Australia) :5; Ross ), and their numbers have almost doubled in the last decade (DET n.d.).…”

Betyr Alzheimers sykdom demens?

“…An ageing population and a decrease in the availability of informal (family) caregivers have contributed to an increased demand for long-term care services in high-income countries (254). This increase in demand requires an increase in the workforce which, in many countries, is being met by migrant health professionals and migrant care workers (255,256). In general, migration is from LMIC to high-income countries as people seek better working conditions (pull factors) (227).…”

What Drives the Recruitment of Migrant Workers to Work in Social Care in England?

“…In" many" developed" countries," migrants," predominantly" women," have" filled" jobs" in" secondary" labour" markets" for" more" than" a" century" (Collins," 1991;" Castles" and" Miller," 2003)." The" pivotal" role" of" migrant" workers" in" meeting" shortages" in" the" provision" of" UK" long<term" care" mirrors" the" situation" in" other" developed" countries," such" as" the" United" States" (US),"Japan"and"Australia" (Virag,"2008;"Howe,"2009;"Martin"et'al.,"2009)." " "2.…”