Media Release

22 February 2006

Licence all care workers

The ANF, today, is calling for the licensing of all care workers in aged care facilities.

‘The purpose of licensing is to protect the public,’ ANF Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe said.

Health professionals such as nurses and doctors are licensed. They must comply with national standards and work to professional codes of conduct and ethics.

‘Their employment history can be and is monitored,’ she said. ‘There is a mechanism to deal with complaints about their behaviour. If a nurse or doctor abuses patients, their license can be revoked.’

It is impossible for employers to check the employment history of unlicensed workers.

If the employees conduct is unsatisfactory they can resign or be sacked but still go and work in another aged care facility.

There have been calls for the introduction of mandatory reporting, Ms Iliffe said. ‘However, reporting occurs after the event. Mandatory reporting alone will not prevent older people from being abused. People in aged care facilities need our protection.’

‘The purpose of licensing is to protect the public and that is why all care workers should be licensed,’ said Ms Iliffe.

The ANF, representing 145,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses in Australia.

Media inquiries
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary 0417 053 322
Lani Stanistreet, Manager Communication & Journals 0414 471 339