28 October 2022
By ANMF (SA Branch) and ANMJ staff
This week was an historic one for the aged care sector. On Thursday, the Senate passed a bill ensuring 24/7 Registered Nurses in all nursing homes, mandated minimum care staffing minutes and transparency and accountability on public funding.
“The ANMF had campaigned for all of these measures in the build-up to the May Federal Election and to which the then Albanese Opposition committed,’ ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said.
“By contrast, not one member of the ousted Morrison Coalition committed to our fix aged care agenda.
“We are thrilled that action is finally now being taken to address the chronic needs of an aged care sector in crisis.’’
On Tuesday, the Albanese Government’s inaugural Budget outlined a $3.9 billion package for aged care reform including for a mandated registered nurse 24/7 in all aged care homes, mandated minimum number of care hours provided by RNs, and a new national registration scheme for personal care workers.
Ms Dabars said the investment was a significant step forward, providing support for staff ratios and other measures which will ensure safe, quality care for older Australians living in nursing homes.
The Albanese government’s first Budget also outlines a five-point plan for targeted cost of living relief which includes cheaper child care and cheaper medicines, an expanded paid parental leave scheme, more affordable housing, and wages increases for the lowest paid workers.
“These measures provide a platform to reform aged care by recruiting and retaining nurses and workers, so desperately needed across the sector,” Ms Dabars said.
“Increased access to child care subsidies, the extension of paid parental leave to 26 weeks and more affordable housing will also provide great benefit to our members.”
In addition, $235 million has been allocated to commence the rollout of Urgent Care Clinics and $750 million set aside for the Strengthening Medicare Fund.
The ANMF (SA Branch) and our members look forward to continuing to work with the Prime Minister and Federal Labor ministers, in delivering sustainable health and aged care services for the benefit of the community.
Aged care
The $3.9 billion package for aged care reform includes:
- From 1 July 2023 all aged care homes must have a registered nurse on site 24/7.
- Mandated number of care minutes – starting with 200 care minutes including 40 nursing minutes from October 2023, and 215 care minutes including 44 nursing minutes from October 2024.
- A new national registration scheme for personal care workers.
- Maggie Beer Foundation funding to educate and train staff to meet new nutritional standards.
- Initiatives to progress in-home aged care reforms.
- A dedicated Aged Care Complaints Commissioner to deal with complaints.
- A new independent Inspector-General of Aged Care to target systemic issues to improve outcomes for older Australians.
- Funding to provide better support to older First Nations people, those from diverse communities and those living in regional areas.
Cost of living relief
- The five-point plan for targeted cost of living relief:
- $4.7 billion over 4 years for cheaper child care for 1.26 million families.
- $531.6 million over 4 years to expand paid parental leave to 26 weeks by 2026.
- A new national Housing Accord tasked to deliver up to 20,000 new affordable homes.
- $787.1 million over 4 years to reduce the general patient co-payment for treatments on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from $42.50 to $30 per script.
- Supporting wage increases for Australia’s lowest paid workers.