Nurses are officially added to the immigration “Green List” fast track where they are able to apply for immediate residency.
Simon Wallace, New Zealand Aged Care Association Chief Executive says “This announcement is welcome news for aged care residents, their families, overworked staff and facility owners. At last we can attract the nurses we need to provide the care older New Zealanders need.”
Presbyterian Support’s National Executive Dr Prudence Stone says that along with the recent pay parity news, “… as employers of migrant nurses, their getting on the Green List is like Santa’s Goody List! Now we can finally attract the internationally qualified nurses we need to provide the specialist care New Zealanders need, as they age.”
Presbyterian Support provides healthcare and support services known locally as Enliven for New Zealanders with disabilities and for older New Zealanders.
Stone says that since the pandemic, Presbyterian Support has struggled to retain nurses due to the Government’s lack of funding leaving them paying less than their counterparts.
“It’s been a rough, really tough year for many, so Enliven centres across Aotearoa are toasting government this Christmas, for correcting ghosts of Christmas past with pay parity, then granting immediate residency to all our migrant nurses this Christmas.”
