The operator had been slammed by the Health Services Union over plans to employ 50 overseas aged care workers over the next three years.

The Union has accused Warrigal – which has 10 locations across the Illawarra, Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands – of “turning its back” on local workers, but Warrigal CEO Mark Sewell says they were only being considered for its Bundanoon and Goulburn sites to tackle labour shortages and would need to be “highly skilled”.

An enquiry into what skill sets the workers would require was still waiting on a response.

Warrigal is currently building a new retirement village at Shell Cove (pictured), which has been partly funded by $17 million from the Restart NSW Illawarra infrastructure fund.