A first-ever formal health care agreement between Indonesia and a Canadian jurisdiction.

The New Brunswick government has signed a memorandum of understanding to make hiring from Indonesia easier.

It will allow them to recruit more trained nurses and personal support workers.

It follows a letter of intent that was signed in July 2024 and establishes a formal framework.

“The recruitment of internationally educated nurses represents a key component in addressing our current health human resources shortage,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “This mutually beneficial agreement opens up a new source of skilled health-care professionals and is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure we have well-staffed systems that provide care to New Brunswickers now and in the future.”

A recruitment mission was conducted in October last year, and under this new agreement, New Brunswick employers can now offer positions to identified candidates.

New Brunswick will provide navigation support, including assisting with foreign qualification recognition and immigration processes, to Indonesian healthcare professionals who are seeking employment opportunities in the province.

Since 2019, more than 1,300 internationally educated nurses have been recruited to work in New Brunswick, as registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, or personal support workers. The province has developed expedited pathways for nurses trained in 14 countries to become licensed sooner.