Training the I-Kiribati to Care for ‘Older Australians’: A Model for Labour Mobility, Recruitment, and Sustainability

The challenges faced by small island populations over vast areas of the world’s largest ocean are quite similar—socioeconomic, environmental, geographic, and political. Resources vary between countries and are challenged by issues such as environmental degradation, harsh climate, poor governance, poverty, gender inequality, and unsatisfactory health outcomes. Furthermore, “brain drain” migration affects capacity-building while contributing to a decline in population. Because of limited production bases, and the relative weakness of most economies in the region, aid from donors such as Australia and New Zealand remains an essential part of economic development. Labour mobility programmes represent a growing opportunity for more Pacific islanders to seek skilled work abroad and enhance their lives. The aged care sector has seen an exponential increase in demand. Aged care is gaining momentum as the next “golden opportunity” to access skilling and employment outside of Kiribati. This can be observed in Kiribati, a group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator, halfway between Hawaii and Australia. This chapter discusses an aged care training programme in Kiribati, the issues underpinning its start-up, integration into recognized training at the Kiribati Institute of Technology, a model for recruiting and training I-Kiribati workers for labour mobility opportunities in Australia, issues of quality, and how to embed long-term sustainability.