“The heart of aged care is its workforce but too often, barriers like housing costs, limited transport options, and other pressures push them away," Simon Miller, CEO of the Not For Profit, told The SOURCE.
In our latest instalment of aged care CEO 'political wishlist' articles before the Federal Election, Simon said, "If we want to build a stable workforce, we need to address these challenges holistically and create a system where workers feel supported in every aspect of their lives.”
Simon would like to see:
- significantly reduced-fee or free training,
- programs to support career progression and leadership development in aged care, and
- improving access to affordable housing and reliable public transport for essential workers in the care economy.
Addressing workforce shortages was on almost every CEO's wishlist, emphasising the enormity of the issue for the sector.
Support innovation
Simon is also pushing for the Federal Government and aged care bureaucrats to "actively enable and encourage innovation" in residential aged care and home care services, including reducing regulatory red tape, grants or pilot funding for innovative care models, and creating avenues for providers to develop and implement new approaches to service delivery.
Another common theme through the responses we received from CEOs is the need to reduce the time consumers wait to receive the Home Care Package they have been assessed as needing.
“The demand for home care services is outpacing supply, leaving too many Australians waiting far too long for the care they need," Simon said.
"Expanding access to Home Care Packages is essential for enabling people to live independently while reducing pressure on residential care facilities."
Simon said the implementation of the Act will require "patience, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to achieving better outcomes for older Australians".
"The new Aged Care Act offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the sector, but it will only succeed if we work together with trust, respect, an openness to new ideas and a shared vision for what aged care in Australia should be," he said.
Previous 'political wishlist' stories:
Anne McCormack CEO of mecwacare wants to see greater recognition of palliative care in aged care
