‘ We must act now ’
Report shows improving staff wages and conditions key to sector transformation .
By Conor Burke
New research by industry super fund HESTA shows that the Australian aged care sector will miss out on a significant opportunity to grow the aged care workforce if there is not an adequate national effort to improve wages and conditions in the sector .
The State of the Sector Aged Care Workforce Insights : COVID and Beyond report found poor pay and a lack of career opportunities were causing workers to leave the industry .
It found that around a third of respondents did not feel valued and appreciated by their community and employer .
The top three reasons for wanting to leave their employer were : 1 ) skills development ; 2 ) wanting to try something different ; and 3 ) pay .
“ Our research shows we must act now to improve wages and working conditions if we ’ re to attract the skilled and talented people needed to provide high-quality care for older Australians ,” HESTA chief executive Debby Blakey said .
“ We have more than 200,000 members who work or have worked in aged care . Transforming the aged care system must start with the people central to delivering these critical services and improving outcomes for older Australians .
“ Improving the quality and sustainability of aged care jobs will improve the financial future of our members working in the sector . A stronger aged care system is also vital for our members and all working Australians who will directly rely on these services as they age .”
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Transforming the aged care system must start with the people central to delivering these critical services and improving outcomes .
The report also found that staff under the age of 30 and nurses were most likely to intend to leave aged care within two years , and in 2020 , 32 to 38 per cent of aged care employees said they were highly unlikely to recommend their employers , leaders or a career in the sector .
Over the past year there was improvement in aged care workforce sentiment across a range of measures in a challenging year , the research finds , with 84 per cent of aged care respondents saying they felt somewhat or strongly supported by their employers during COVID , and staff also reported that they feel prouder to work in the sector than before . “ Workforce strategies implemented now could be particularly effective at attracting and retaining aged care professionals ,” Ms Blakey said . “ We can ’ t afford to waste this opportunity .” “ The Royal Commission warned of an understaffed , underpaid and poorly trained workforce . The research is clear – our members are telling us these are key concerns and would cause them to leave the industry or not recommend others work in the sector ,” Blakey said . Blakey said that the pandemic has highlighted the precarious financial position that many aged care workers are in , made more apparent by the quarter of HESTA aged care members ( 45,000 +) who made a claim to access their super early under the Government ’ s scheme .
She said that the issues highlighted in this report will affect how the sector will be able to grow the workforce , which the Royal Commission said needed to increase by 70 per cent by 2050 to maintain current staffing levels in the face of rising demand .
“ Without strong advocates from employees in aged care , we ’ ll struggle to attract the people needed to lift standards and meet the expected increase in demand from our ageing population .” ■