At last week’s LEADERS SUMMIT, Aged Care Minister Anika Wells promised the Government will fund the Fair Work Commission’s full 15% pay rise for aged care workers from 1 July 2023.
"It will be 15 per cent from July 1 this year,” she told delegates at the sold-out event.
“This pay rise will help you retain your skilled workforce, attract more people to the sector and stop paying high agency rates to fill the gaps you have now.
“Without workers, the discussions of care minutes, of improved systems, of returning dignity to aged care means little,” she said.
The Minister also made it clear the Government expects the additional funding to be passed on in full to staff.
“It is not for budget repair. It is for staff. It is not for cross-subsidisation of services. It is for staff,” she said.
Minister Wells said there is a public perception that aged care providers are not using Government funding for the purposes it is intended for.
“One of the things that I think has suffered the most is a perception that exists out there that some providers get this money, and they do not pass it on where it is intended,” she said.
The Minister also said the Government will assist providers struggling to meet the new standards requiring 24/7 RNs from 1 July and mandated 200 minutes of direct care from October 2023.
“We will not close providers that are trying their best to meet this target,” she said.
“If you have made genuine efforts to recruit Registered Nurses and lift care minutes but can’t find enough staff… we will work with you to help get you there,” she said.
The Minister said the Government plans to host an ‘aged care summit’ in Canberra next month.
“I want to hear from providers, consumers, unions, stakeholders… how we can work together to deliver a world-leading aged care system,” she said.
Stay tuned for more details.
