With Anika Wells, Minister for Aged Care, telling the 550 sector executives at the LEADERS SUMMIT 2023 that the 15% pay rise for many workers in the sector must be passed on to them in full, the peak bodies today united in agreement.
The Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) released a statement stating ACCPA, Anglicare Australia, Baptist Care Australia, Catholic Health Australia, and UnitingCare Australia, supports the pay rise.
Catholic Health Care issued its own statement stating its aged care providers are committing to fully pass on the Federal Government’s funding for pay rises to its hard-working staff.
Direct care and some senior food services employees in the aged care sector will receive an extra 15%, which will cost the Government an extra $2.1 billion a year.
ACCPA CEO Tom Symondson, who spoke at the LEADERS SUMMIT 2023, welcomed the federal government’s commitment to fully fund the pay increase, and associated costs, so that aged care providers can pass on the increase to their staff in the first pay period after 1 July.
“We know that many aged care providers have already enthusiastically committed to doing this, with more pledges coming through every day,” Tom said.
Clare Grieveson, Southern Cross Care WA Chief Executive, said: “The aged care industry is currently experiencing workforce shortage crisis, so this increase will help improve the sector’s ability to acquire and obtain experienced care staff to ensure the industry is providing the very best care and quality of life for older Australians.”
