Archived Media Releases: 30 June 2007
Pledged Aged Care funding welcome but ALP addresses only half the problem
The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) welcomes the ALP’s pledge of an extra 300 million in loans to build or expand residential and respite facilities in areas of need.
The ANF also supports what would be a further investment of $158 million over the next five years to provide more additional transition care places for older Australians, assisting them in their move from hospital to more appropriate care and recovery.
Acting Federal Secretary, Gerardine (Ged) Kearney said, “The ALP has indicated a strong commitment to aged care and this pledge of extra funding will certainly go some way to assist older Australians. While we would welcome the funding we reiterate that this is only half the solution. Aged care also requires appropriate numbers of qualified nurses to deliver the care and there is currently a critical shortage of those very nurses.”
The ANF says that there is increasing evidence of rapidly rising numbers of older Australians requiring care with a decrease in the number of qualified nursing staff.
“The numbers of qualified registered nurses and enrolled nurses employed in aged care has dropped by 21% since 1995 despite an increase in resident numbers and dependency.” Ms Kearney explained;
The ANF says that although useful, increased bed numbers will not equal safe delivery of quality care without access to adequately qualified nursing staff.
Although the ANF welcomes Mr Rudd’s pledge they reiterate it is only half the solution and are calling for improvements in the aged care workforce through;
- the establishment of dedicated funding to close the wages gap where nurses in aged care currently earn up to $20,000 per annum or $250 per week less than their colleagues in other areas;
- the licensing of all direct care staff; and
- the establishment of minimum nursing staff levels and an appropriate skill mix of direct care staff, and registered and enrolled nurses throughout the aged care workforce.
Media Contacts
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322
Libby Muir, ANF Communications Manager 0413 834 979
The ANF, representing 150,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia