CEO Richard De Haast with employees the company has sponsored. Photo: Supplied.
Griffith aged care provider Scalabrini has celebrated providing 150 staff from foreign countries secure employment through its labour agreement program.
The not-for-profit company recently hosted a special tea party for employees it sponsors to honour this milestone.
Labour agreements are contracts businesses have with the Federal Government to allow them to sponsor skilled overseas workers when jobs cannot be filled by locals.
“Scalabrini’s labour agreement has been instrumental in sponsoring over 90 dedicated aged carers and registered nurses, enabling them to build secure, long-term futures in Australia,” the company said in a statement.
“These staff members play a crucial role in delivering compassionate, high-quality care across Scalabrini’s communities.”
The celebratory tea party was attended by 13 staff, family members and friends, along with Scalabrini’s CEO Richard De Haast and distinguished members of the Scalabrini board. Each staff member was presented with a Belong diary to journal their new life as Australian citizens.
To date, Scalabrini has employed 150 staff as part of the labour agreement and has already supported 70 of them in achieving residency. The organisation has also committed $750,000 to the program for the 2024/2025 financial year. In recognition of its efforts, Scalabrini has received two recent awards: the Best Workplace Award 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. The awards are based on employee and client feedback in areas such as leadership, engagement, and service quality. To qualify, organisations must achieve scores of more than 80 per cent on every survey question.
“By investing in our dedicated carers and healthcare professionals, we not only enrich their lives but also enhance the care provided to our residents,” Mr De Haast said.
“This celebratory [morning tea] serves as an affirmation of Scalabrini’s mission to provide supportive and inclusive workplaces where staff can thrive both personally and professionally.”
Many of the staff celebrated at the event have faced adversity in their efforts to build a future in Australia.
The company highlighted the employee Manjit, who moved to Australia from India 15 years ago with dreams of a brighter future.
“Over the years, she faced numerous challenges — navigating changing visa conditions and shifting between careers to meet evolving requirements,” Scalabrini said.
“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.”
Scalabrini operates six aged care villages across Sydney and Griffith, and recently launched Live Easy — a new home care service providing tailored support and social connection for older adults in parts of Sydney.
