Fix aged care by fixing workforce: ANF
The nursing union is keen to play a key role in the aged care reform process.
Older Australians are falling through the cracks in the aged care system as it struggles to cope with increasing demand, according to the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF).
The nursing union says its members are reporting that there is a shortage of community care packages in a number of regions throughout Australia.
And it warns that as the population ages, residential aged care facilities will also face increasing pressure.
The ANF’s federal secretary, Lee Thomas said changes must be made to ensure a robust and viable sector now and into the future.
“The way we are going to do that is by addressing the workforce issues and making sure there are enough RNs [registered nurses], ENs [enrolled nurses] and AINs [assistants in nursing] – all of whom have an important role to play,” she said.
“We need minimum staffing levels and an appropriate skills mix and that means the right numbers of RNs, ENs and AINs.
“We also need the rates of pay to be in line with nurses working in other sectors.
“Those two things along with reform of the aged care sector would go a very long way to actually seeing a future where people were assured that care was available.”
Ms Thomas said the ANF is keen to play a key role in the Productivity Commission’s current inquiry into the aged care sector.
The union has made a submission to the inquiry and it has arranged to submit a supplementary report, outlining the message from its recent aged care campaign.
It is also encouraging its members to give evidence at the inquiry’s public hearings in February and March next year.
“We are very, very hopeful that the issues we raise will be addressed because they are real issues,” said Ms Thomas.
“In the past, the Productivity Commission have looked at the aged care sector of their own volition and come up with some findings that are in line with our campaign.
“They weren’t picked up because that report was not commissioned by the government but this one is so we are more confident about that.”
The ANF will meet with the new Minister for Ageing and Mental Health, Mark Butler, midway through next month.
“We have always had a very good relationship with the Minister for Ageing and I expect this relationship will be along the same lines,” Ms Thomas said.
“I’m very hopeful given that with the experience of sector that [Mr Butler] has, there will be some ability for us to go some way in discussing the relevant issues with him.”
