Immigrants can care for ageing society

“This will happen only if our society changes its thinking and places higher value on careers in aged care,” she said. “The key to this successful change includes providing better opportunities for immigrants and career changers.”

Speaking at the National Aged Care Alliance meeting in Canberra, Commissioner Ryan highlighted the fact that the number of people in Australia aged 85 years and older is projected to quadruple to more than 1.8million over the next 40 years.

“We need to recognise and plan for this increased need for health service provision,” Ms Ryan said. “This is an urgent and critical challenge for Australia: if we don’t provide properly for aged care, we will have a human rights disaster on our hands.”

While the new aged care reforms package improves on previous policies and programs by its incorporation of a consumer choice approach, she said the real test lies in the implementation – providing aged care that is fully respectful to the rights of older people.

“The provision of aged care must align with the principles and obligations to which Australia has committed under international human rights instruments – principles such as non-discrimination and equality, participation, monitoring and accountability mechanisms and remedies,” Commissioner Ryan said.

“Our carer workforce will be key to success. The biggest implementation issue now comes down to the carers – who are they, how are they trained, how are they rewarded, do we have enough?” she said. “We do not have enough now and unless we introduce new approaches, we won’t have anywhere near enough in 40 years.”

Commissioner Ryan said many valuable aged care workers come from recent immigrant populations. To strengthen this source, she has requested the Minister for Immigration consider including ‘aged care worker’ on the skilled occupation list.

“Through more targeted immigration initiatives, Australia could increase the numbers of skilled aged care workers,” she said.  “Increasingly, aged care workers also come from other parts of the labour market, from second or third career moves, or people coming from declining sectors – and aged care can be a good option for older workers who are having difficulty finding jobs.”

Commissioner Ryan emphasised that if more people are to choose to become aged care workers we need incentives, support, promotion and encouragement. We must place more value and prestige on careers in aged care, and improve the training and rewards for these crucial jobs.