Scalabrini celebrates permanent residency milestone for over 70 staff

They came from across the globe with aspirations for a long and meaningful life in Australia. Now, more than 70 dedicated aged care workers celebrated the moment that their dream became reality: permanent residency in Australia.

In a heartfelt afternoon tea, not-for-profit aged care organisation Scalabrini Communities staff, family, and friends gathered to mark the incredible milestone, a testament to perseverance, partnership, and the power of inclusive workplaces.

Through its strong commitment to the Australian Government’s Labour Agreement programme, Scalabrini has sponsored over 90 staff members in the past 18 months alone, empowering them to build secure, meaningful lives in Australia while delivering compassionate, high-quality care to older adults.

The organisation said this commitment is aligned to the mission of Scalabrini Congregation founder, John Baptist Scalabrini, who 140 years ago created a religious order to provide pastoral care and support to migrants.

“By investing in our dedicated carers and healthcare professionals, we not only enrich their lives but also enhance the care provided to our older adults,” Scalabrini Chief Executive Officer Richard de Haast said.

“This celebratory event serves as an affirmation of Scalabrini’s mission to support migrants and in doing so create  supportive and inclusive workplaces where staff can thrive both personally and professionally.”

As part of its investments, Scalabrini committed $750,000 to its sponsorship programme for the 2024/2025 financial year. This focus on making staff part of the organisation’s mission has a positive flow-on effect on culture, while having a powerful impact in addressing workforce retention.

It has an impressive staff turnover rate of just 9%, well below the industry average of 35%. In recognition of its efforts, Scalabrini has received several prestigious awards, including the Best Workplace Award for two consecutive years and the Change Champion Award.

These accolades were awarded as part of The Voice Project, an initiative affiliated with Macquarie University that has assessed staff satisfaction and engagement in Australian workplaces since 2002.

Beyond the external recognition, Scalabrini expressed its pride over the success stories of staff who have overcome adversity to build a future in Australia.

Ramila came to Australia from Nepal to support her husband, who — despite being an accounting professional with dual master’s degrees completed in Australia — was struggling to gain permanent residency.

Ramila planned to undertake a course to become a registered nurse, before falling pregnant. Though she had nursing experience from Nepal, she could no longer pursue her studies and was running out of options to remain in the country until Scalabrini stepped in. By offering her a sponsored position as a carer, the organisation helped her and her family finally begin their life in Australia. 

Meanwhile, Manjit’s journey began 15 years ago when she moved from India to Australia with dreams of a brighter future. Over the years, she faced numerous challenges, including navigating changing visa conditions and shifting between careers to meet evolving requirements.

Manjit explored multiple professions, from accounting to nursing, each time hoping it would bring her closer to permanent residency. She eventually found her place in aged care as a cook, a role that filled a critical need at Scalabrini.

The introduction of the Labour Agreement finally gave her a pathway to apply for residency as a carer. The process wasn’t without hurdles, but her determination never wavered and neither did Scalabrini’s support.

“Your stories of resilience and achievement are an inspiration to the entire Scalabrini community. It is a privilege to be able to positively impact your futures in this way and know that the benefits and opportunities will flow on into future generations of your family,” Mr de Haast added.

Each staff member was presented with a Belong diary to journal their new life as Australian citizens during the celebratory afternoon tea. Scalabrini’s innovative programme, Belong, was designed to transform the way aged care is delivered in Australia.

Belong is a person-centred approach that emphasises dignity, individual choice, and a strong sense of community for every resident. Anchored in seven key pillars: My Journey, My Voice, My Interests, My Food, My Dignity, My Purpose, and My Beliefs. It reflects Scalabrini’s commitment to ensuring that everyone in its communities feels valued, heard, and truly at home. The programme is both customer-facing as well as staff-facing, ensuring alignment and deep engagement.