The health sector is particularly pleased with the latest immigration changes that would allow migrant nurses and midwives to the direct pathway to residence. However, they do feel that that change could have happened earlier, and a lot needs to be done.
The occupations in the green list announced in July are split into two groups "straight to residence" and "work to residence". The fast-tracked 'straight to residence pathway means those in listed occupations could directly apply for residence. The 'work to residence pathway' allows occupations listed to apply for residence only after being in New Zealand for two years.
While doctors were eligible for the straight-to-residency pathway, nurses and midwives were on the ‘work to residence’ pathway. But things have changed since the latest announcement.
The health sector has been struggling with labour shortages for years and is welcoming the announcement.
Kerri Nuku, kaiwhakahaere, New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) welcomes the immediate residency pathway for overseas nurses as a step forward given the global crisis of nursing workforce shortages and about 3000 – 4000 nurse vacancies in Aotearoa itself. But she does feel that there’s still lots of work to be done as many NZ nurses are heading overseas for better pay, and others leaving the workforce early due to burnout or frustration. “The inclusion in Green list’s 'straight to residence pathway has created certainty to those international workers, but the issue still needing work is around pay and conditions, particularly around health and safety. Until we address those issues, only then can we start to attract the highly qualified skills that we need. There has to be better working conditions and better pay!”
New Zealand College of Midwives Chief Executive Alison Eddy agrees with Kerri. ‘It is better late than never, but more needs to be done. We have been asking the Government to include Midwives in fast-track residence pathway for months, and it is great that the Government has heard us. However, we need to realise that this is not and cannot be a long-term solution to the workforce challenges midwifery and other health professions face.
“While this fast-tracking is positive, 'growing our own' NZ-educated midwives is the only sustainable long-term solution. We should have been doing this a decade ago, so there's much catching up to do. We must put a strategy in place to improve the recruitment and retention of NZ midwives. Pay parity is now the next challenge we need to focus on."
The Aged Care Association chief executive Simon Wallace maintained that the announcement would give certainty to migrant nurses who choose to make NZ their home and help attract much-needed nurses for the sector.
“It 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 NZers need. It is great that the Government has listened and acted on what was becoming a dire situation. The aged care sector just took another step back from the brink. However, we need to sort out an improved investment to support home-grown nursing," Wallace says.
Josephine Gagan, CEO of the country's largest home and community support services provider, New Zealand Health Group, appreciates the change in immigration settings. “The scarcity of nurses has left many vulnerable Kiwis without the critical healthcare they need. We are pleased that the policy settings are now being changed. Adding nurses to the Green List will make NZ an attractive option for many trained and qualified nurses and will alleviate the significant pressure on our entire healthcare system, including the home and community sector,” says Gagan.
Dr Frances Hughes, Group General Manager, Clinical and Care Services at Oceania Healthcare, NZ's largest owner and operator of retirement villages, also shared her excitement. She says, "We are pleased and excited to see our wonderful Internationally Qualified Nurses will get residency in NZ and become part of our community.”
Indian Weekender contacted Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS), which provides services to employed midwives who predominately provide core midwifery services. It represents members in their employment issues, negotiates Collective Agreements, and supports the professional needs of employed midwives.
Caroline Conroy, MERAS Co-leader (Midwifery), says, "We are happy to hear the Government's announcement. However, whilst we acknowledge recruiting midwives from overseas will assist in alleviating the immediate shortage we are facing, there is a worldwide shortage of midwives because of a lack of support and investment in this critical health profession. Overseas recruitment is not the long-term answer to solving the workforce shortage.”
Conroy points out that there is a need to ensure incoming midwives have a positive experience if we are to retain them. "We know retention is already a significant issue amongst our locally trained midwives. For several overseas midwives, the experience they have had already has not been favourable, and some regret moving here. That must stop happening. “
According to Conroy, investment in growing NZ's own midwives locally will be the best way to ensure that in the longer term, the midwifery profession better reflects the communities of New Zealand, with a particular focus on increasing the number of Maori and Pasifika midwives.