Managing Director of recruitment agency Orchard Talent Group, Alex McDonald, has told The Australian that in the last three months there has been a 43% increase in the number of disability support workers seeking a new role in aged care.

Disability support workers have generally been paid 25% more than aged care workers, but with the Fair Work Commission’s 15% pay rise coming in on 1 July 2023, personal care workers are set to see their wages rise by up to $5 per hour.

According to Orchard Talent’s data, the average monthly number of disability support workers applying for aged care jobs has been 86. However, in the last quarter, this has risen to an average of 112, The Australian has reported.

National Disability Services’ latest Workforce Census Report reveals that the disability sector workforce continues to experience undersupply and high turnover. The report expresses concerns that the situation could worsen, in part due to improved wages in aged care.

You can read about the Census report HERE.

The shift in workers away from disability care should ring alarm bells for aged care providers – improvements in one part of the health system should not be at the expense of others. The health system needs to be considered as a whole.