28 April 2022
Greens candidate for Sturt Katie McCusker says she has seen first-hand the challenges the aged care sector is facing on a daily basis.
“I feel like we need to appropriately value our aged care residents and also the people who work in aged care and I don’t think that is happening at the moment. I do feel like there is so much more we can do,” the former Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network administration manager said.
“You have got to remember this is the residents’ home - there should be choice around food, to provide them with choice around activities and for that to be really meaningful.
“To do that we really need to invest more in our carers and workers and give them more secure work.”
On Wednesday, Ms McCusker became the fourth Greens candidate in South Australia to sign the ANMF Aged Care pledge which calls for:
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RN 24/7 – at least one registered nurse on all sites at all times
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Minimum mandated care hours and the right skills mix
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Greater transparency – funding tied to care
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Improved wages and conditions
“It is so important to have the opportunity today to put my name down as someone who will pledge to put those improvements in place if I had the opportunity to do so,” she said.
She added she was disappointed but not surprised Liberal candidates have not committed to the ANMF’s four key actions.
“Everything seems to be ‘We’ll just leave that to the private sector, we’ll just let other people manage that’,” she said.
“They don’t seem to understand how fundamental it is that we respect our older people and our older population and make sure they are safe and well.”
ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM welcomed the Greens’ ongoing support and said Aged Care reform was a vital issue in the lead-up to the May 21 election.
“Aged Care was already in crisis, and the situation has worsened during the pandemic,” Ms Dabars said.
“Of the parties that can form government after the election only Labor has a plan to fix aged care.
“Older Australians receiving aged care cannot and must not, wait any longer for the quality care they deserve.”