Health Minister's new plan to 'fast-track' visas for nurses already happening: Senator | NT Independent

Health Minister’s new plan to ‘fast-track’ visas for nurses already happening: Senator

by | Oct 8, 2021 | News | 0 comments

Senator Sam McMahon has called out NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles for not being aware that the Federal Government streamlined visa approval processes for overseas health care workers last year, after the Minister said fast-tracking visa approvals was part of her new plan to fix the NT’s health crisis.

Ms Fyles told the NT News today in an “exclusive” that she has been lobbying federal counterparts to “streamline” visa approvals for nurses, doctors, and other health workers who are applying to work in the NT as part of her plan to fix the current NT health crisis.

“I have written to the Commonwealth Government seeking their support to enable the fast-tracking of visa approvals for overseas doctors, nurses, midwives … to help fill staffing gaps,” Ms Fyles said.

However, Ms McMahon said in a public statement that Ms Fyles’ claims show she is “not across her brief”, and that she should have known the federal government had accelerated the process as of last year.

She also accused Ms Fyles of “deflecting attention from the poor management of the Northern Territory’s health system”.

“The Federal Government has already put in place mechanisms for the acceleration of critical staff including doctors and registered nurses in September last year (2020),” Senator McMahon said in the statement, emphasizing that measures are already in place.

“I have spoken to the Minister for Immigration’s Office Alex Hawke who were surprised at the request given how long the mechanisms have been in place.

“Natasha Fyles should have known this and demonstrates she is not across her brief.”

Ms McMahon added that the Federal Government has just facilitated a huge cohort of Pacific workers for the aged care sector.

“The truth is, the Gunner Labor Government has been sitting on its hands while we drift from code yellow to code yellow and don’t want to take responsibility for it,” she said.

Ms Fyles’s office did not respond to a request for comment or explain how she did not know of all the options already available to attract health care workers to the NT.

In September 2020, the Department of Home Affairs released 44 critical skills identified in the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) which it said will fill employment needs to support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19.

Among occupations listed are in the medical field, including Medical Laboratory Scientist, Hospital Pharmacist, General Practitioner, Psychiatrist, Medical Practitioners, Midwife, and Registered Nurses, among others.

“Existing skilled migration occupation lists will remain active, and visas will still be processed, but priority will be given to those in occupations on the PMSOL,” Former Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge MP said in a statement last year.

Last month, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT branch secretary Cath Hatcher said the Gunner Government’s takeover of the Howard Springs quarantine facility, which retrenched Territory health workers, had contributed to Royal Darwin Hospital “at breaking point”.

In May, the NT Government assumed responsibility for operations at the Howard Springs quarantine facility from the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) which had been overseeing it, through a controversial deal with the Federal Government.

NT Health was forced to recruit around 400 staff for the facility, enticing current health care staff with pay rises and job opportunities.

“At the beginning of the year, the NT Government said that it wouldn’t impact, but it certainly has,” Ms Hatcher said in September.

She said around 100 nurses would be needed from overseas to fill job shortages, suggesting the recruitment needs to be done immediately.

Australian Medical Association NT president Dr Robert Parker supported the idea of importing health professionals from overseas to expedite getting trained nursing staff on board, the same way fruit pickers were flown from the Pacific to help with NT’s mango harvest.

Ads by Google

Ads by Google

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

0 Comments

Submit a Comment