Remote WA aged care facility achieves long-term staffing stability through vital partnership

Western Australia’s picturesque beach town of Esperance may be a dream getaway destination, but distance is a harsh reality check for those working and living remotely.

This is especially true for the town’s only residential aged care provider, Esperance Aged Care Facility. 

The independent non-profit, community-based organisation is home to 104 residents, providing a critical opportunity for older people to remain in or near their local community. 

Managed by a volunteer community board, it is a glowing example of why residential aged care is essential in rural Australia. With over 150 employees it is also one of the region’s leading employers. 

However, Esperance Aged Care Facility was susceptible to workforce fluctuations. Its Chief Executive Officer Dr Ed Rhode said there has been a heavy reliance on short-term agency staff in the past, resulting in high staffing costs and roster unpredictability. 

As workforce pressures mounted, Dr Rhode sought help through international recruitment and a partnership with healthcare employer HealthX.

This collaboration initially focused on the PALM (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility) Scheme, which brought stability to the workforce through long-term care workers.

“With the PALM (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility) Scheme, we’ve stabilised our workforce and significantly reduced our overall staffing costs,” Dr Rhode shared. 

“Having workers committed to a four-year placement through the PALM Scheme has given us a predictable workforce and made managing care minutes much more achievable. Instead of constantly worrying about last-minute staff shortages or high agency fees, we can focus on planning our operations more effectively.

“The roster stability they’ve brought has been invaluable. Knowing we have a consistent and reliable team means everyone can focus more on delivering quality care rather than just getting through the day.”

The PALM Scheme is one of the most impactful workforce measures after it was expanded to include aged care. Eligible businesses can hire workers from nine Pacific islands and Timor-Leste to fill a range of roles for up to four years. 

While the benefits of the PALM scheme are substantial, the complexities of international recruitment can place significant strain on smaller organisations.

HealthX Chief Executive Officer James Scott said navigating visa requirements and complying with regulations, plus providing training and support to workers so they can safely settle into a new environment and culture, requires time and resources many aged care providers don’t have.

“Bringing in international workers isn’t easy – it’s a complex process with a lot of moving parts,” Mr Scott said.

“When HealthX partners with a facility to bring in international workers, we take care of the whole process – from recruitment and visa sponsorship to training and onboarding, payroll and welfare.” 

Dr Rhode said HealthX’s ongoing support has been instrumental, from training and preparing the care workers before they arrived in Esperance, to assisting in onboarding and finding their place within the community. 

“The training and cultural integration have made a huge difference in how quickly they’ve adapted to their roles. They’ve not only connected well with our existing team, they’ve formed incredible bonds with our residents,” he said. 

“They bring a level of care and respect that aligns beautifully with our values, and their presence has definitely enhanced the overall quality of care we provide,” Dr Rhode added.

Asti Tekiaa is one of roughly 20 workers who call Esperance home thanks to the PALM Scheme. Ms Tekiaa said the opportunity to work in Australia has allowed her to help her family in Kiribati. 

“Everyone is very friendly, and the residents are just so beautiful, they have been very welcoming.

Esperance Aged Care Facility’s experience is not an isolated one either. HealthX has received positive feedback from its clients during the three years that PALM has included aged care. 

Mr Scott said there has been a significant improvement in stability and decreased pressure on budgets thanks to the long-term staffing solutions. Providers are also better placed to meet compliance requirements like care minute targets.

“For the facilities, it’s about creating a supportive environment where these workers can thrive. For us at HealthX, it’s about making sure we recruit and prepare workers for the experience, setting them up for success,” Mr Scott said.

Due to the success of the PALM Scheme, Esperance has recently expanded its partnership with HealthX to include the recruitment of long-term registered nurses to meet the demands of care minute targets.

The Facility is welcoming ten internationally qualified AHPRA-registered nurses through HealthX’s supply model. These nurses bring diverse skill sets from their home healthcare systems, enriching the quality of person-centred care delivered to residents. 

The model provides an opportunity for these nurses to integrate into the Esperance community for the life of their placement, and begin their pathway to permanent residency in Australia. 

Esperance has also embraced HealthX’s Global Nurse Pathway, a program supporting internationally qualified nurses to gain AHPRA registration while working in Australia. Currently, eight nurses are participating in the program, initially working as Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) until registration, and then continuing in the facility as a Registered Nurse.

“HealthX has provided solutions that allow us to plan ahead with confidence,” Dr Rhode shared. 

“Their PALM workers, long-term registered nurse solution and Global Nurse Pathway program create a reliable, integrated workforce that future-proofs the facility.

“The presence of these excellent workers will not only help us achieve compliance targets and enhance roster stability, it will most importantly enable us to continue delivering the consistent, high-quality care our residents deserve.”

Aged care employers who would like to learn more about HealthX’s tailored workforce solutions can contact Rebecca Hogan, Director of Strategic Partnerships at HealthX.