Inclusion of some non-direct care workers in pay deal welcomed

The aged care provider peak body has welcomed the federal government’s submission to the Fair Work Commission in which it extended its 15 per cent pay rise offer to include head chefs, cooks and recreational activities officers.

“ACCPA said in November, at the time of the FWC work value case decision, that we looked forward to a further decision by the commission which includes these staff as well as direct care staff in the pay increase,” Aged & Community Care Providers Association CEO Tom Symondson told Australian Ageing Agenda.

“Higher pay for aged care workers is a key step towards achieving successful and long-lasting aged care reform as identified by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.”

ACCPA itself made a submission to the FWC on Tuesday answering a question posed by the full bench asking stakeholders whether the interim pay increase should apply to all home care workers on the SCHADS Award or just those on the lower levels.

ACCPA informed the FWC that if those workers on the higher levels were excluded, they would end up earning less than their subordinates.

“To increase the current wage rate of home care employee levels 1-3 by 15 per cent and retain the current wage rate for home care employee levels 4-5 will create an anomaly within the SCHADS Award that creates tension with elements of the modern awards objective,” reads the submission.

“We need to encourage good chefs into aged care.”

Maggie Beer

Regarding the inclusion of head chefs and cooks in the FWC pay deal, Loretta Reiken, consultant chef for the Lantern Project – the national community of practice to improve food and nutrition in aged care – said: “Aged care cooks and chefs are integral to the health, wellbeing and quality of life of aged care residents. Food contributes not only to clinical care but also provides the opportunity for residents to meaningfully connect with others. The value of this on resident quality care has long been underestimated and not prioritised.”

However, Ms Reiken told AAA that all members of the catering team – such as assistants and servers – need to be included in the pay deal. “Excluding catering teams sends a clear message to the workforce which further damages morale and will only fuel the exodus of skilled and caring catering staff from the industry.”

Also speaking to AAA, celebrity cook Maggie Beer – who campaigns to improve food across aged care – said: “Cooks and chefs in aged care are vitally important and should be celebrated and paid on a par, an equivalent position in industry. We need to encourage good chefs into aged care, we need to give them respect and recognition for their training and that means economic parity with similar positions in industry.”

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Australian Recreational Therapy Association – whose members include diversional and recreational therapists, recreational activities officers and lifestyle staff – ARTA president Renee Smith told AAA: “It is heartening that the government has committed to including our members within aged care to be included in the 15 per cent pay rise and we see this as a beginning for further recognition of the value that qualified recreational therapy staff play in supporting older Australians in meaningful and purposeful recreational engagement.”

The 15 per cent wage increase is to be phased in over two stages: 10 per cent from 1 July 2023 and a further 5 per cent 12 months later.

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