23 October 2020
The Aged Care Royal Commission has been told nurses and support workers are being exploited and need to be paid more to improve the sector.
Counsel Assisting the Inquiry Peter Rozen QC told the Commission that to date, massive funding increases to the sector haven't translated to better wages and conditions, the ABC reports.
Recommendations included better training and skills development for workers and doing more to retain staff.
“The vast majority of the aged care workforce are women and the low pay they receive, we submit, is nothing less than the aged care system exploiting the goodness of their hearts,’’ Mr Rozen said.
“Aged care workers don’t need to be told they’re heroes. What they need is a practical recognition of the value of their work.
“They need better wages and conditions.’’
ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj. Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said aged care workers work every day “under incredibly difficult circumstances in providing crucial care and support to frail Australians’’.
“Yet it remains one of the most poorly paid professions,’’ she said.
“With so many billions of taxpayer dollars injected into the aged care system every year, one has to wonder where does the money actually go?
“Certainly not on improving the wages and conditions of an underpaid, under-resourced, under-staffed but dedicated workforce.’’