Why are complaints being ignored?

Queensland aged care workers are asking the Federal Government to cooperate with aged care facilities and their union about addressing the risks and hazards they face in the industry.

“The AWU will be conducting meetings with aged care workers so that, with their help, we can construct an accurate survey to measure perceptions and ideas about their work, its special difficulties and possible improvements,” Bill Ludwig, Australian Workers Union (AWU) national president and Queensland secretary, said.

“We already know that  approximately half of all health industry work injuries come out of the aged care centres – but relatively little is done about safety concerns in this sector of the health industry.

“To turn around the stark 50% figure the AWU is keen to create a new consensus about the correct number of workers needed to deliver services in aged care centres.

“Too much of the decision-making about this issue is done without involving the workers themselves,” Mr Ludwig said.

The AWU in Queensland has developed an approach to address the key issues in the industry.

“The unpaid overtime in Aged Care where staff start early and finish late needs to be tackled as part of our workplace safety strategy.

“Our members tell us that back injuries come when workers use incorrect techniques because they are rushed to get things done, or because there are just not enough staff to do all the work.

“The needs of this low-paid workforce are special to this industry. It is a largely female and older workforce concentrated in aged care homes where the notion of proper risk assessment and management  for employees is unfortunately often overlooked,” he continued.

“These workers often have to deal with difficult residents who are generally helpless and dying – unfortunately the psychological and emotional health effect on these workers in this situation is too often overlooked.

“Almost 20% of workplace injuries in this sector are associated with abuse and violence from centre residents.

“But to get improvements and changes we need input from aged care workers  – we need their examples, their case studies for a possible campaign.

“The AWU is hoping to begin the change process in the coming weeks as we fan out to talk to more aged care workers in Brisbane and Southern Queensland,”  Mr Ludwig said.