Expanding the Green List: 32 New Health Roles and Updated Pathways to Residency

Green List expanded with 32 new health roles, updated pathways for residency, and inclusion of Ship Masters and Deckhands.

On April 11, 2023, the government announced significant updates to the Green List, adding 32 new health roles and updating the pathways to residency for these roles. This move is expected to boost the delivery of health services in New Zealand and provide more opportunities for eligible individuals to apply for residency. In addition to health roles, Ship Masters and Deckhands have also been added to the Bus and Truck driver sector agreement.

New Health Roles Added to Green List

Starting from May 29, 2023, the following health roles will be added to the Green List:

  1. Addiction practitioner/alcohol & drug clinician
  2. Audiometrist
  3. Chiropractor
  4. Clinical dental technician
  5. Clinical physiologists (sleep, renal, exercise, respiratory, neurology, and cardiac)
  6. Counselor
  7. Dental specialists
  8. Dental technician
  9. Dental Therapist
  10. Dentist
  11. Dietician
  12. Dispensing optician
  13. Drug and alcohol counselor
  14. Enrolled nurse
  15. Genetic counselor
  16. Medical laboratory pre-analytical technician
  17. Medical resonance imaging technologist
  18. Nuclear medicine technologist
  19. Nurse practitioner
  20. Optometrist
  21. Oral health therapist
  22. Orthotic and prosthetic technician
  23. Orthotist/prosthetist
  24. Osteopath
  25. Paramedic/emergency medical technician
  26. Perfusionist (cardiac)
  27. Pharmacist
  28. Physiotherapist
  29. Play therapist (hospital)
  30. Social worker
  31. Speech-language therapist
  32. Sterile processing technician

Updates to Residency Pathways

All health roles on the Green List Work to Residence pathway will now be moved to the Straight to Residence pathway. This includes the following roles:

  1. Anaesthetic Technician
  2. Audiologist
  3. Medical imaging technologist
  4. Medical laboratory technician
  5. Medical radiation therapist
  6. Occupational therapist
  7. Podiatrist
  8. Sonographer

The existing roles on the Green List Straight to Residence pathway remain unchanged and include the following:

  1. Clinical Psychologists
  2. Medical laboratory scientist
  3. Medical practitioners
  4. Midwife
  5. Orthoptist
  6. Physicist (Medical)
  7. Psychologists
  8. Registered Nurse

Ship Masters and Deckhands Added to Sector Agreement

The government has confirmed the inclusion of Ship Masters (ANZSCO code 231213) and Deckhands (ANZSCO code 899211) in the time-limited residence pathway through a sector agreement for bus and truck drivers. Skippers must be paid the market rate, and migrant worker deckhands must be paid at least the median wage to utilize this sector agreement. Details for the bus, truck, skipper, and deckhand sector agreement are still being finalized, with implementation expected to begin in late May.

Conclusion

The addition of 32 new health roles to the Green List and the updated pathways to residency demonstrates the government's commitment to improving the delivery of health services in New Zealand. Aspiring residents in these roles should take advantage of this opportunity and prepare for the application process beginning on May 29, 2023.

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