Warning: Cuts to Immigration Could Push Australia’s Healthcare System into Crisis

October 11, Sydney – Amid growing political pressure to significantly reduce immigration, doctors in Australia have issued a grave warning about the potential repercussions. They caution that any major cuts to immigration could lead to unexpected and severe consequences, particularly impacting hospitals and regional communities. Dr. Krish Sundararajan, who arrived in Australia 21 years ago and has built his career as an intensive care specialist, speaks from experience. A beneficiary of Australia’s equal opportunity system, he states, “I would not want to live anywhere else in the world. There is a superb combination of career opportunities and a supportive environment here, and most importantly, the people here are incredibly wonderful.”

Currently, doctors like Dr. Sundararajan are at the heart of a critical national workforce debate. About 30 percent of Australian doctors, over 40 percent of general practitioners, and more than half of intensive care specialists received their training overseas. Likewise, many students on student visas are enrolled in the country’s medical schools. Peter Subramanyam, Chair of the South Australian Medical Association and an associate professor, emphasizes, “They are not just filling vacancies; they are actually supporting the entire healthcare system.”

In rural Australia, this dependency is even more acute. Subramanyam explains, “There is no alternative between local doctors or immigrant doctors. The alternative is having no doctors at all.” This issue extends beyond physicians alone. Nurses and aged care workers also heavily rely on immigration. Over 50 percent of staff in these sectors are immigrants, with thousands more required. Tom Symondson, CEO of Aging Australia, remarks, “When we talk about not allowing people who came here from overseas to stay, we are discrediting the millions of aged care workers who came here at our request.”

Bringing foreign-trained doctors and healthcare workers into Australia enjoys broad political support. However, questions remain about the system’s heavy reliance on overseas talent and the need to better train domestic personnel. Nationals Party leader Matt Canavan states, “We rely heavily on foreign-trained doctors and healthcare workers. What we want to achieve is a balanced system that retains the necessary skills within our country.” Experts warn that if immigration of healthcare workers is restricted or reduced, it will not only destabilize but could fully collapse the healthcare system.