Raising wages of aged care workers
The federal government today announced it will spend $1.2 billion over four years to raise the wages of the country’s 320,000 aged care workers. The money, to flow from 1 July, will contribute to an enterprise bargaining agreement to lift the pay of personal carers, enrolled nurses, and registered nurses in the aged care sector.
The federal government today announced it will spend $1.2 billion over four years to raise the wages of the country’s 320,000 aged care workers.
The money, to flow from 1 July, will contribute to an enterprise bargaining agreement to lift the pay of personal carers, enrolled nurses, and registered nurses in the aged care sector.
Seniors advocate, COTA Australia, claims the improved wages will be welcomed by older people and their families as a “modest first step” to better quality care.
COTA Australia chief executive, Ian Yates, says older people’s experience with aged care was dependent on the quality and number of staff available to provide their care.
“Older people rightly expect high quality care – whether they receive it at home or in a residential facility,” Mr Yates says. “One of the biggest concerns older people have about aged care is that staff are underpaid and overworked and don’t have enough time to spend with them, or haven’t been adequately trained.”
COTA Australia also welcomes the government’s intention to convene a broader workforce working group to develop an Aged Care Workforce Development Plan.
Between now and 2050 Australia will need an extra 500,000 aged care workers.
“How will we attract them if we don’t pay them well and provide the same working conditions as in other sectors?” Mr Yates asks.
“Working with older people is just as important as working with anyone else in the community and shouldn’t be paid less, offered less training, or be seen as a lesser career.”
The workforce reforms were called for by the National Aged Care Alliance, of which COTA is a member, in its Blueprint for Aged Care Reform.
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