Workforce key to meeting increased care needs: ACCPA

Workforce, how we resolve the chronic staff shortages affecting aged care and long-term funding remain key areas of focus for the sector and federal government in the pursuit of genuine aged care reform, Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) Interim CEO Paul Sadler said.

“Aged care providers are working hard to make sure they can meet the required additional minutes of care for people living in aged care homes but the dire shortage of staff, particularly registered nurses, makes it especially challenging,” Sadler said.

“ACCPA supports 24/7 RN coverage in aged care homes, but there are simply not enough nurses available to fill vacancies in aged care, particularly in rural and regional areas,” Sadler said.

“Aged care providers need a short-term solution to supplement the workforce so that they can support these reforms and ensure older Australians have access to the best quality care.

“We need to recruit more staff as quickly as possible, and we need a practical and realistic plan to get there that avoids adding to the pressure that staff and providers are currently under.”

Sadler said a workforce plan for aged care also needed to address staff shortages in home and community care where new clients are being turned away because providers cannot find enough staff.

“We are looking forward to next month’s Jobs and Skills Summit and to working with the government and key stakeholders on developing a jobs plan for aged care,” Sadler said.

On Thursday, 26 August, the Senate Community Affairs Committee held a hearing on the Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022, which amends the Aged Care Act 1997 to require RNs to be onsite in residential care homes 24/7 from 1 July 2023. The Bill being examined by the Senate Committee also includes capping home care fees and requirements for the publication of information about aged care services.

Sadler was scheduled to appear before the committee hearing as part of a panel on Thursday.

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