The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements (ACILAs), introduced by the Labor Government, are costly and the structure is "limiting", says the CEO of two aged care homes on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
NoosaCare, which has an ACILA in place, has approval to recruit only two Personal Care Workers (PCWs) per year, its CEO Grant Simpson told The Weekly SOURCE for our political wishlist series in which we ask aged care leaders ahead of the 3 May Federal Election what they would like to see prioritised by the next elected Government.
Grant also said the costs incurred under the ACILA program, particularly those paid to the Department of Immigration, are high and "comparable" with traditional international sponsorship arrangements.
The CEO would like to see a "comprehensive review" of ACILAs, with a focus on
- increasing the allowable intake of PCWs to meet growing demand,
- expanding the scheme to include Registered Nurses (RNs), which are currently excluded, and
- reducing the financial burden of participating in the scheme by lowering costs.
CEO of LDK Seniors' Living
In January, we reported 2,649 visas had been issued under ACILAs in the 18 months since they were introduced, of which 2,066 were granted to applicants already in Australia, mostly already working in aged care, and 583 from overseas. The number is well short of the 22,000 target over five years.
Byron Cannon, CEO of private aged care operator LDK Seniors' Living, told The SOURCE then the uptake of ACILAs had been "minimal" due to the requirement for heavy union involvement and the high cost. Tom McConnell, General Manager Clinical Care and Services with Curtin Heritage Living, which was the first aged care provider to sign an ACILA, said each application takes about 5.5 hours to complete and costs up to $5,000, plus administrative work.
Ageing Australia, the peak body for aged care providers, recently estimated the workforce gap at 4,043 RNs and 35,000 PCWs.
Clamp down on agencies
Another priority for Grant is greater regulation of workforce agencies, which can "exert disproportionate control over workforce supply, conditions, fees, and hours utilised for care delivery".
Key reforms could include:
- capping agency fees charged to providers,
- limiting the share an agency can have of the available aged care workforce, and
- mandating more transparent, worker-friendly contracts that protect workers from exploitative practices and give them more freedom to change employer.
Housing subsidies paid to aged care workers
Grant would also like to see Government housing subsidies paid directly to aged care workers.
"A crucial challenge in attracting and retaining skilled aged care workers is the affordability and availability of housing," Grant said.
"Housing support would not only make essential aged care roles more financially viable but also enhance worker retention and job satisfaction."
Read our previous 'political wishlist' articles:
Level the playing field on payroll tax: Homestyle Aged Care CEO Tim Humphries’ political wishlist
Seven years since a workforce strategy: Juniper CEO Russell Bricknell’s ‘political wishlist’
“Whining for more money won’t cut it”: IRT CEO Patrick Reid’s political wishlist
Anne McCormack CEO of mecwacare wants to see greater recognition of palliative care in aged care
