news
Remote voice
Sector applauds remote aged
care workforce accord.
A
ged care providers have welcomed
a unified voice for remote and very
remote services.
Minister for Senior Australians and
Aged Care Ken Wyatt said the industry-
led accord, made up of experienced
providers and organisations, recognises
the unique challenges of providing care
in remote settings and the importance
of finding local solutions to attract and
retain workers.
The establishment of a remote accord
was one of 14 strategic actions set out
in the Aged Care Workforce Taskforce’s
recently released blueprint, A Matter of
Care – A Strategy for Australia’s Aged Care
Workforce.
Taskforce chair Professor John
Pollaers wrote: “Workforce issues in
remote and very remote areas call for
specific and tailored actions, informed
by on-the-ground experience.
“A united remote and very remote
industry voice is envisaged, with action
to engage on workforce issues needing
attention and develop pathways for change
involving all levels of government, industry
and the community.”
Aged & Community Services Australia
(ACSA) said its members regularly tell the
peak body of the difficulties they face
in recruiting and retaining appropriately
trained and skilled staff in remote areas.
“Research undertaken for the Aged
Care Workforce Strategy found that being
located in a remote area does not only
increase the chances of an employer
experiencing skill shortages, but also
makes the job of resolving them much
more difficult,” ACSA chief executive Pat
Sparrow said. “Actions to tackle workforce
issues in remote and very remote areas call for very specific actions, informed by
on-the-ground experience by those who
deliver services in these areas.”
ACSA added that action to address
both financial and workforce issues is still
sorely needed. “A recent financial survey
by StewartBrown highlights that currently
63.5 per cent of facilities in these areas are
reporting losses. This has grown from 56 per
cent last year with the number of unviable
aged care facilities set to continue to grow.”
The accord group, which is expected
to meet at least four times a year, will be
chaired by Chris Hall, chief executive of
Juniper WA, with Praveen Gopal, from
MacDonnell Regional Council in the
Northern Territory, acting as deputy chair.
Sparrow said the two worthy
appointments were “very experienced
in delivering aged care services in
remote areas”.
In his report, Pollaers recommended the
government “work with the remote accord
to conduct a series of consultations and
prepare for discussion of a contemporary
roadmap for remote aged care funding
models, services and infrastructure”. ■
hit the region hard this year and the wildlife
group had been experiencing an extremely
busy time on the rescue front.
So Kelly Rouse, lifestyle coordinator
from Seasons Aged Care at Kallangur,
reached out to the Bribie & District
Wildlife Rescue – which rescues,
rehabilitates and releases native wildlife
– to offer help.
Rouse said she and some of the residents
shared common interests, including crocheting and knitting, as well as a soft
spot for wild animals.
Six months later, when the pouches were
finished and the volunteers travelled down
to the facility to collect the handiwork, they
brought along a couple of little possums
in care so the residents could meet the
animals they’d be helping keep warm.
Residents Mavis Ford, Ellen Fox, Nell
Barr, Marlene Brittain and Valerie Nielsen
presented the volunteers with the pouches
and liners they created.
Norman said residents loved hearing that
their work was making a difference and
were looking forward to continuing to help
out the rescue group.
“It’s just going to skyrocket from here on
out,” Rouse added.
Bribie & District Wildlife Rescue took to
Facebook to give its thanks: “On arrival
to Seasons Aged Care at Kallangur, we
were greeted by lovely residents who had
taken the time to sew and crochet or knit
these pouches. They were all so happy
and smiling and interested in what we do.
It filled our hearts with love and happiness.
Animals certainly have the ability to bring
happiness to many people.
“As a group, we are forever grateful to
community members who offer to help
in various ways and who support us in our
sometimes challenging volunteer work.” ■
Possum magic
Residents craft possum pouches
to help rescue group.
F
orget the usual knitted fare of socks,
blankets and throws, Queensland
aged care residents have been busy
crafting pouches for possums and other
native wildlife rescued by a local animal
welfare group.
Seasons Aged Care’s community
manager Janet Norman said baby season
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