When it comes to securing high-quality support for people with disabilities, many Australian families, NDIS providers, and employers look internationally to fill gaps in the workforce. Sponsoring a support worker for an Australian visa is a significant process that can help strengthen disability support services, bring new expertise, and address workforce shortages in the care sector.

Below, you’ll find an in-depth guide to everything you need to know about sponsoring a support worker for an Australian visa, including processes, requirements, costs, typical roles, challenges, and much more. [object Object]

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How to Sponsor a Support Worker for an Australian Visa

What is Visa Sponsorship for Support Workers?

Visa sponsorship is the process where an Australian employer (including registered NDIS providers) sponsors or nominates a suitably qualified overseas worker to work in Australia in a specific occupation or role. For disability and aged care providers, this often means bringing in support workers, support coordinators, and allied health professionals to fill labour shortages—especially in regions where suitable local staff are hard to find. [object Object]

Why Sponsorship is Important in Disability Support

• Addressing Workforce Shortages: The NDIS continues to expand, but skilled support workers and coordinators are in short supply, particularly in rural and remote areas. [object Object]
• Ensuring Quality Care: Candidates from overseas often bring additional qualifications, language skills, and cultural diversity, enriching the support provided to NDIS participants.
• Sustaining Services: Sponsorship helps providers and participants maintain continuity in disability services and avoid gaps that could impact people with disabilities.

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How Does Sponsoring a Support Worker in Australia Work?

Key Migration Programs

The most common visa programs for sponsoring support workers include: [object Object]

• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482):
  • Enables employers to address skilled labour shortages by sponsoring overseas workers for up to 4 years. [object Object]
  • Occupations must be on the relevant skills shortage list.
• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (Subclass 186):
  • Permanent residency pathway for workers already on a TSS or other temporary visa. [object Object]
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (Subclass 187):
  • Permanent visa for regional areas looking to fill roles.
• Skilled Independent (Subclass 189 & 190): [object Object]
  • For skilled workers invited to apply independently or nominated by a state/territory government.

Note: Not every support worker role is on the skills shortage list. However, roles like ‘Nursing Support Worker’ or ‘Disabilities Services Officer’ sometimes qualify, especially where evidence of shortages is available. [object Object]

Steps to Sponsor a Support Worker

1. Become an Approved Sponsor [object Object]
   • Apply to become a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) with the Department of Home Affairs.
   • Demonstrate your business is legally operating, financially sound, and has a genuine need for a support worker.

[object Object] 2. Nominate a Position

• Identify a genuine, full-time role in your organisation (such as Disability Support Worker, Community Support Worker, Support Coordinator, Registered Nurse, or Allied Health Assistant).
• Ensure the role is on the occupation list and meets salary (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold - TSMIT) and employment requirements. [object Object]

3. Find and Nominate a Worker

   • Recruit the candidate, either directly or through an international search. [object Object]
   • Help them collect documents to prove qualifications, experience, English proficiency, and regulatory registration (where required).

4. Visa Application by the Worker [object Object]

   • The potential employee applies for the relevant visa, attaching nomination and supporting documents.
   • Typical requirements include background checks, skills assessments, and health exams.

[object Object] 5. Ongoing Obligations

• Employers must ensure workplace rights are respected, meet annual reporting, and keep records as per Department of Home Affairs requirements.

[object Object] Processing times vary from several weeks (TSS) to many months (ENS) depending on role, country of origin, and backlog.

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Key Benefits and Features

• Addresses Workforce Gaps: Opens access to skilled workers not available locally. [object Object]
• New Skills & Perspectives: Brings diversity, cultural competence, and sometimes language skills essential for NDIS participants from CALD backgrounds.
• Retention Potential: Visas often facilitate longer tenure, especially for permanent schemes.
• Regional Focus: Special pathways or incentives exist for critically understaffed rural and remote regions. [object Object]

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Common Professions Sponsored in Disability Support

While not all disability or support worker roles are eligible, the most common sponsored professions in the NDIS space include:

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• Disability Support Worker (sometimes listed as 'Aged or Disabled Carers')
• Nursing Support Worker
• Community Support Worker [object Object]
• Allied Health Assistant
• Enrolled Nurse or Registered Nurse
• Support Coordinator (varies depending on description and qualification) [object Object]
• Social Worker
• Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Pathologist
• Residential Care Worker [object Object]

Real Scenario Examples:

• A regional registered NDIS provider sponsors a Fijian disability carer under the Subclass 482 after six months of job ads fail to attract qualified local candidates. [object Object]
• A metropolitan disability organisation sponsors a qualified Irish Occupational Therapist via Subclass 186 for therapy and rehabilitation support coordination tasks.

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Costs Associated with Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship involves several costs, generally borne by the employer: [object Object]

• Sponsorship Application Fee: ~ $420 AUD
• Nomination Fee: ~ $330 AUD (varies) [object Object]
• Visa Application Fee: $1,330 – $2,800+ AUD (can be paid by applicant or employer)
• Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy: $1,200–$1,800 AUD per worker per year (dependant on business size)
• Migration Agent/Legal Fees: Optional, can range from $2,000–$6,000 [object Object]