Archived Media Releases: 6 June 2006

ANF renews call for licensing of aged staff

The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) is renewing a call for the licensing of all aged care workers following the publication of research from the Australian National University outlining the importance of licensing to protect older people in aged care facilities.

ANF assistant secretary Gerardine (Ged) Kearney said while the Federal Government had committed resources to education and training programs it did not go far enough as carers in aged care facilities remain unlicensed.

‘The purpose of licensing is to protect the public. The research makes the point that many of the personal carers surveyed had no or very little relevant education or training. While we applaud efforts to train and educate the health workforce our major concern is the need for licensing.’

Ms Kearney said licensing would ensure carers had a professional framework that would make them accountable to the people they care for, the people they work with and the broader public.

‘People in aged care facilities have a right to be cared for by appropriately qualified staff. Carers should have a professional body that sets standards of training, education and accountability. A professional framework would ensure carers worked to a code of ethics and provided a high level of care,’ she said.

The research referred to in this release was conducted by Research Fellow Dr Tony Jones from the Australian National University.

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

The ANF, representing 150,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia