Still not enough to meet future demand

The number of allied health workers in home care rose dramatically between 2020 and 2023, but the sector’s peak body says more will be needed to meet rising demand as the population ages and more Home Care Packages are released.

Released last week by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the 2023 Aged Care Provider Workforce Survey shows that, last year, almost 15,000 allied health professionals and assistants were working in home care settings.

According to the AIHW’s latest biennial workforce survey, which provides detailed information on the size, composition and characteristics of the aged care workforce in Australia, 7,100 allied health professionals and assistants were working in HCPP during 2023 – an increase of 90 per cent from 2020.

There were 7,800 allied health professionals and assistants in CHSP – an increase of 60 per cent from 2020.

Upward trend likely to continue

Chris Atmore, policy and advocacy manager at Allied Health Professions Australia, said the upwards trend was likely to continue.

“We know that the ageing population is growing and that this trend will continue,” she told Australian Ageing Agenda.

“We also know that many older people prefer to remain living at home rather than moving into residential care, and that more Home Care Packages have been released by government.

“The baby boomer generation is beginning to move into the stage where they are seeking aged care. Many from that generation are likely to be more aware of the opportunities that allied health reablement affords them and more likely to advocate for those needs.”

Despite the increase, allied health care needs remain unmet, Kym Torresi, senior advisor aged care at Speech Pathology Australia and member of AHPA’s Aged Care Working Group, said.

“It’s not nearly enough, because we are starting from a low base,” Ms Torresi told AAA.

“The Royal Commission found that only 2 per cent of Home Care Package funding was being used on allied health services. We know from allied health professionals on the ground and from consumers’ reports to us that there remain consistent themes of unmet allied health needs in home care that are similar to those for aged care residents.

“As we move to a new Support At Home program and the hope for a greater identification of allied health need and focus on reablement, a far bigger increase in the number of allied health professionals will be required.”

She adds it can be a postcode lottery in home care as to whether people can access services, particularly in rural and remote areas.

As we move to a new Support At Home program and the hope for a greater identification of allied health need and focus on reablement, a far bigger increase in the number of allied health professionals will be required

Kym Torresi

“It can even vary considerably within and between suburbs in major metropolitan cities. For instance, it can depend on which home care provider you are with and what their linkages with local allied health providers look like,” she said.

“We are seeing some steps in the right direction with the introduction of a new assessment tool in home care, and moves towards implementing Support at Home, but more work needs to be done.

“Support at Home has to be appropriately resourced for the allied health services, aids, equipment and home modifications needed to keep older people as independent as possible, and maintain their autonomy, social connection and participation, and wellbeing.”

As reported by Australian Ageing Agenda recently, the study also showed the number of allied health workers in residential care fell sharply between 2020 and 2023.

Last year, 6,400 allied health professionals and assistants were working in aged care homes – down from 11,200 in 2020, a decrease of 42 per cent, the AIHW figures showed.

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