industry & reform
‘ New normal ’
Aged care reform ranked top ethical challenge , report finds .
By Elise Hartevelt
Australia has named next year ’ s aged care reforms as the nation ’ s top ethical challenge , according to a recent report .
The annual 2022 Ethics Index quizzed a thousand Australians on ethical challenges around topics such as Covid-19 and climate change .
One in three participants voted the overhaul of the aged care industry as Australia ’ s most significant ethical hurdle .
Interestingly , aged care reform didn ’ t make it to the top 12 priority list in 2021 , while ranking third in 2020 .
The sector is facing significant reforms , including mandated 200 care minutes per resident per day by October next year and onsite 24 / 7 registered nurses by July 2023 .
The new changes are in response to the 2021 Royal Commission into Aged Care and Quality report that brought shocking cases of abuse and neglect to light .
Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said the Albanese government had directly addressed 37 of the umpire ’ s 148 recommendations over the past six months .
“ The former government completed a mere 6 per cent of the Royal Commission recommendations in the time they had in office ,” Wells said .
“ Around 37 recommendations to improve aged care in six months compared to nine in 15 months .”
While most unions and major aged care providers have welcomed reform , significant concerns have been raised about whether some mandates would be achievable by 2023 .
Dr Nicole Sutton from UTS estimated the sector needs at least 18,000 additional direct care workers , including 7,000 registered nurses , to comply with the new standards .
“ We found that currently , 4.7 per cent of aged care homes are on target to meet next year ’ s staffing and care minute mandates ,” Sutton said .
“ We need solutions from both the government and providers because it ’ s not going to be a quick fix .”
The Ethics Index saw the aged care workers ’ index drop by four compared to last year , settling on a score of 50 for Australia ’ s occupations in the healthcare sector .
Additionally , nearly 50 per cent of the participants perceived aged care providers as ethical compared to 30 per cent rating providers as somewhat or very unethical .
Nurses took the lead in being viewed as Australia ’ s most ethical profession in the healthcare sector with an index of 77 , followed by veterinarians ( 73 ) and GPs ( 72 ). Governance Institute of Australia chief Megan Motto said nurses have consistently scored high on the nation ’ s ethics index – from 2020-22 , nurses always ranked in the top four most ethical professions .
“ We need solutions from both the government and providers .
In 2020 , nurses had a net ethical score of 79 ; in 2021 , that score rose to 80 , only outranked by fire services at 85 .
Motto said the pandemic had emphasised the nursing profession ’ s commitment to delivering care under stressful and dire circumstances .
“ We perceive them as highly ethical because they have shown us they are ,” Motto said . “ As Covid-19 swept across Australia , nurses swung into action , working long hours under often difficult conditions . “ Australians witnessed this incredible marathon of bravery , determination and care from nurses during the pandemic .”
The index also discovered a dip in the nation ’ s overall levels of ethics .
“ We know that strong ethics are an indicator of a strong , well-functioning society ,” Motto said .
“ It ’ s like we moved away from the ‘ all in it together ’ mindset witnessed at the onset of the pandemic when record highs were recorded in the Ethics Index .”
The survey found that the gap had widened between Australia ’ s ethical expectations and the actual level of ethics .
“ The wider the gap , the bigger the indication that society is not performing the way we want it to ,” Motto explained .
“ As we continue to traverse the ‘ new normal ’, it seems we are a little less trusting , more cynical and more divided .” ■
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