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Aged Care Minister Anika Wells introducing the bill on 27 July . Photo : AAP / Lukas Coch
Major royal commission reforms pass through parliament .
The Albanese government ’ s first bill to pass through parliament was a piece of major aged care legislation enshrining an updated code of conduct for providers , a five star rating system for residential care homes , and mapping out the details of a new funding regime .
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government took a “ significant step ” to ensure older Australians received the care they deserved .
‘ Significant step ’
“ Having an aged care bill in response to the royal commission become the first to pass through parliament shows how seriously we take reform in the sector ,” Albanese said .
“ I made promises to the Australian people to improved aged care and inside our first ten weeks we have begun delivering on those promises .”
The new aged care subsidy funding model , the Australian National Aged Care Classification ( AN-ACC ), is due to be implemented from 1 October 2022 .
The Department of Health and Aged Care will also publish star ratings for all residential aged care services by the end of 2022 .
“ After nine years of neglect , reform in aged care has finally begun and will continue to be driven so our most vulnerable people are treated with the dignity they deserve ,” said Aged Care Minister Anika Wells .
The legislation included measures to extend the Serious Incident Response Scheme ( SIRS ) to all inhome care providers , which will come into effect starting 1 December 2022 .
A new code of conduct for providers will also be implemented by the end of this year .
Sector leaders welcomed the bill ’ s passage , with UWU aged care director Carolyn Smith saying the reforms offered “ the hope that the dark days of neglect are nearing an end ”.
HSU president Gerard Hayes said the laws were an important step forward , but stressed a need to further develop workforce levels and staffing standards .
“ Our industry will not be fixed overnight and will require significantly greater resources ,” Hayes said . ■
Double down
Aged care staff shortages double in less than a year .
Australia ’ s aged care workforce is now facing an annual worker shortfall of up to 35,000 staff , a new report has revealed , nearly double the estimated figure given in 2021 .
The Committee for Economic Development of Australia ( CEDA ) released a report detailing the deteriorating staffing crisis in the aged care industry .
The independent think tank estimates 65,000 carers will leave the sector this year alone , with poor wages and conditions driving people to quit .
“ If workforce shortages at this level continue , we will not have enough workers to meet the basic standards of care recommended by the royal commission ,” said CEDA senior economist Cassandra Winzar .
“ The aged care workforce was already under significant pressure with staff shortages , low pay , poor working conditions and increased negative attention through the royal commission . “ Over the past year , COVID-19 has amplified these pressures .”
For a workforce that was already burnt out prior the pandemic , this has been the breaking point for many . “ During a time where unemployment is low , many have chosen to leave the sector ,” said Winzar .
“ Filling this shortfall will not be achieved without determined and consistent effort which must start now .”
The CEDA report also raised concerns about Labor ’ s commitment to place 24 / 7 registered nurses in aged-care homes by the end of the year .
It said that “ miniscule levels ” of migration coupled with little government intervention will make it near possible to reach mandated staffing levels .
“ The situation is not all doom and gloom . Aged care is a rewarding career , with high levels of job satisfaction ,” the report said .
“ If we can start to rebuild the workforce , lift wages and conditions , and improve the reputation of the industry we could see a virtuous cycle where increased attractiveness and job satisfaction encourage more and more people to enter the industry .” ■
2 agedcareinsite . com . au