ANMF launches review into sector
Federal secretary of the union Annie Butler says too many members are concerned that ‘nothing seems to have changed’ since the royal commission.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation is conducting a national review of Australia’s aged care system to assess whether the implementation of the royal commission’s recommendations have been effective.
Federal secretary of the nurses and care workers union Annie Butler said the review will look at the insights and experiences of frontline nurses and care workers, and analyse key stakeholder and government reports on sector performance.
It will serve as a “pulse check” for the sector, she said.
The ANMF national survey will also inform a new campaign focused on aged care staffing, funding and workforce planning, Ms Butler noted.
As part of the national survey, ANMF members will also be asked for feedback on:
- staffing, including staff ratios
- skill mix
- funding
- consumer safety
- worker safety
- clinical safety.
“Despite the damning findings of the royal commission and its 148 recommendations over four years ago, ANMF members continue to tell us that their ability to deliver safe, quality care to residents and clients is being compromised by understaffing and unsafe workloads. Too many of them say nothing seems to have changed,” Ms Butler said.
“These reports are supported by government data which clearly shows that many providers across the country are failing to meet their legislated obligations. This is very troubling. But what’s even worse, more troubling and disturbing, is that some providers are manipulating the system to avoid genuinely meeting staffing requirements by changing rosters for frontline nurses and direct care workers, including cuts to rostered staffing hours, shift lengths and shift times, particularly night and weekend shifts, and changing workers’ job titles and classifications to include them in mandated care minutes reports. It’s why the delivery of care continues to be compromised in residential aged care facilities.”
Ms Butler said these behaviours, partnered with the ongoing failure of some providers to pass on funded wage increases to staff, is not just driving quality staff away but also risking the health, safety and happiness of older Australians in their care.
“This is a deeply distressing situation for ANMF members. It also risks undermining the Government’s commitment to reform of the sector and its implementation of the royal commission’s recommendations. Most importantly it risks perpetuating the neglect of older people uncovered by the royal commission,” Ms Butler said.
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