Media Release

22 November 2006

ANF renews calls for protection of older Australians

The Australian Nursing Federation today released position statements on criminal record checks and compulsory reporting for staff working in aged care settings. The statements renew calls for the Australian Government to implement a range of measures to protect older Australians receiving aged care services.

ANF Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe said Government measures introduced so far would not protect frail, vulnerable residents from abuse. Ms Iliffe said relying on criminal record checks and compulsory reporting of abuse was not enough.

‘Older people have a right to be cared for in a safe environment. Abuse of an older person is unacceptable and should be treated as a criminal offence,’ Ms Iliffe said. ‘However relying on compulsory reporting and criminal record checks alone will not prevent abuse.’

Ms Iliffe said these measures are only a small part of what must be a comprehensive response to the potential abuse of older people in aged care settings.

‘One of the best measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of older Australians receiving aged care services is through licensing all health care workers,’ Ms Iliffe said.

‘Licensing of nurses, doctors and other health professionals is undertaken for a very good reason – to protect the public. It is not acceptable for the most frail and vulnerable member of our community to be cared for by unlicensed workers.

‘These workers provide an essential service and should be recognised by being licensed,’ Ms Iliffe said.

’We are all aware of the need to engage a licensed electrician or plumber when organising a tradesperson to work in our homes, yet we still don’t demand the licensing of a group of people who work in health and aged care.’

The ANF position statements on compulsory reporting for staff in aged care and criminal record checks can be found at:

http://www.anf.org.au/anf_pdf/PS_Compulsory_reporting and

http://www.anf.org.au/anf_pdf/PS_Criminal_record_checks


Media inquiries
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary  0419 576 590
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary 0417 053 322