The New Zealand government has announced that 32 new health roles will be added to the Green List, which means they are considered critical to delivering health services in the country.
This move will also see all health roles on the Green List being moved to the Straight to Residence pathway, making it easier for eligible people to apply for residency. Additionally, Ship Masters and Deckhands are being added to the sector agreement for Bus and Truck drivers, with a time-limited pathway to residency.
In this blog post, we will discuss the significance of this announcement and what it means for New Zealand's healthcare industry and the broader community.
The Green List is a list of occupations in high demand in New Zealand and is considered essential for the country's economic growth. The addition of 32 new health roles to the list highlights the government's commitment to improving the healthcare sector and ensuring that the critical needs of the population are met.
The new roles include Addiction practitioner/alcohol & drug clinician, Chiropractor, Clinical dental technician, Dietician, Dispensing optician, Drug and alcohol counselor, Enrolled nurse, Genetic counselor, and many more. The full list is provided above.
The Straight to Residence pathway is a streamlined process that allows eligible people to apply for residency without going through the traditional Work to Residence pathway. The move to transfer all health roles on the Green List to the Straight to Residence pathway will make it easier for eligible healthcare workers to obtain residency in New Zealand.
In December 2022, the New Zealand government announced a time-limited residence pathway through a sector agreement for bus and truck drivers. Now, the government has confirmed that people who work in roles covered by the ANZSCO code 231213 Ship's Master/Skipper and 899211 Deck Hand will also be added to this sector agreement, allowing them to apply for residency.
The eligibility criteria for Skippers and Deckhands include being paid the market rate and the median wage, respectively. The full details of the sector agreement are still being worked through, with implementation expected to begin in late May.
The addition of more health roles to the Green List and the move to Straight to Residence pathway for all health roles, coupled with the inclusion of Skippers and Deckhands in the sector agreement for Bus and Truck drivers, is a positive development for New Zealand's healthcare industry and the broader community.
The government's commitment to improving the healthcare sector and making it easier for eligible healthcare workers to obtain residency in New Zealand highlights the importance of this industry to the country's economic growth and the well-being of its citizens.
