As Australia’s population ages, the preference for ‘ageing in place’ – remaining at home while receiving necessary care to live safely and comfortably – has become increasingly prevalent.
This trend is driving significant growth in the in-home care sector, presenting opportunities and challenges for care providers.
Projected growth of in-home care
The Australian home healthcare market is on an upward growth trajectory, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.7% expected from 2024 to 2030. This surge is attributed to the increasing demand for services supporting older Australians and disabled individuals who want to stay living in their home.
The Government is supporting this rising demand, with $4.3 billion of ongoing investment in a new Support at Home program coming into effect on 1 July 2025. This program will provide over 1.4 million Australians with clinical care, everyday living and independence/personal support services by 2035.
For Residential Aged Care and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers, diversifying into in-home care services offers a strategic avenue for growth. However, the ability to expand depends on the availability of competent nurses, carers and allied health practitioners who can deliver to the required standards.
Bridging the talent gap for in-home care providers
To help meet the rising demand for in-home care workers, The Migration Agency (TMA) recently announced a strategic partnership with the Government of Kerala, India. Known as the Kerala Australia Skills Partnership, this will streamline the recruitment of job-ready aged care workers, AHPRA-registered nurses and other direct care professionals.
This partnership provides a direct pathway for in-home care providers to access skilled workers who are qualified and job-ready from day one. It also presents a valuable opportunity for cultural alignment, particularly for care organisations looking to serve Australia’s Indian diaspora alongside the wider community.
TMA has a global network of partners and programs, leveraging our expertise in migration and mobility, with proven talent strategies to act as a single point of contact as we help care providers build their workforce. Our ‘one stop shop’ provides everything from talent mapping skills to identifying visa pathways, devising sourcing strategies and facilitating upskilling programs. We go beyond basic recruitment by helping to onboard overseas team members and supporting them as they adjust to their new home in Australia.
Stabilising your workforce for more consistent care
A stable workforce is crucial for any organisation delivering in-home care services. To achieve this, care providers need a strategic talent plan, to know which staff will be needed, in what volume and when, and establish visa pathways and talent pipelines to ensure a steady flow of work-ready people.
It’s important to have an immigration advisor and partner who can offer quality and trusted support, and provide direction about the end-to-end process. For example, skilled occupations such as ‘registered nurse’ or ‘enrolled nurse’ are on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which can make the move to Australia easier for job applications. For other occupations such as ‘aged or disabled carer’ there are other avenues for entry, including the Skills In Demand Visa and Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement, and the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement, which can be explored with the help of our Talent Mobility team.
Further to this, employers can consider sponsoring qualified carers or nurses with partners and dependents so employees do not have to travel to Australia alone and the organisation benefits from the skills of both family members.
Supporting older Australians and those with disabilities to live well at home is highly rewarding for providers and carers alike. If your in-home care organisation is looking for a reliable source of job-ready carers and nurses, speak to The Migration Agency.
