One of Queensland’s largest aged care providers, BlueCare, has announced a significant reduction in its Enrolled Nurse (EN) workforce, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) and families of aged care residents.
The provider plans to cut up to 60 per cent of its ENs, potentially affecting 21 of its 40 residential aged care facilities across the state. According to the union, this could result in the loss of up to 84 of the 130 EN positions, with more carers or Personal Care Workers (PCWs) set to take their place.
The decision has prompted concerns over the quality and safety of care, particularly for residents with complex health needs who rely on the clinical expertise of ENs.
QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman has urged Queenslanders with loved ones in BlueCare facilities to “check your elderly” and seek answers from management.
“BlueCare are planning on sacking up to 84 of an estimated 130 Enrolled Nurses across 21 Queensland facilities,” Ms Beaman said.
“That’s up to 60 per cent of BlueCare’s Enrolled Nurses in aged care. The loss of such an experienced and important part of the workforce will have swift and widespread ramifications. We hold serious concerns for the ongoing wellbeing of BlueCare’s aged care residents.”
The union claims staff have been instructed not to discuss the changes with residents or their families. It has referred the matter to several authorities, including the federal Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, and the Australian Human Rights Commission.
“QNMU members will not be silenced regarding BlueCare’s latest decision to cut care. In fact, we are sounding the alarm to every agency that will listen,” Ms Beaman said.
The QNMU argues that replacing ENs with carers could lead to unsafe practices. Unlike ENs, who hold an 18-month Diploma of Nursing and complete 400 hours of clinical placement, PCWs often enter the sector with limited training.
“Removing large numbers of Enrolled Nurses from 21 BlueCare facilities will have serious and swift impacts,” Ms Beaman warned. “We are deeply concerned Personal Care Workers will be tasked with roles formerly carried out by Enrolled Nurses. This is dangerous and cannot be allowed.”
The union said ENs routinely identify serious medical issues such as infections, sepsis, malnutrition, and adverse medication reactions. Without their clinical oversight, the QNMU fears that resident health outcomes could decline rapidly.
Angela Ray, whose mother Lynne Crepin lives at BlueCare’s Rothwell facility, said she was devastated by the news.
“I feel like it might force them to only prioritise clinical things that have to be done, like medications and dressing changes,” Ms Ray said. “But it could leave the social or psychological issues, those needs, unmet.”
She said that most of her family’s interactions were with ENs and that their removal would disrupt continuity of care. “Some of these nurses have decades of experience, and I trust them to advocate for mum,” she said. “We haven’t even been contacted directly about the changes.”
In a statement, BlueCare said the workforce review was driven by federal funding and regulatory changes, specifically new mandatory care minute targets.
“Providers are not funded appropriately to retain Enrolled Nurses. Under the current model, the care enrolled nurses provide can only contribute 10 per cent toward those targets,” a spokesperson said. “We can no longer sustain this funding gap and have had to make the difficult decision to review our Enrolled Nurse workforce.”
The provider insisted that the change would not affect the quality of care delivered to residents and said affected staff were being supported with potential redeployment opportunities.
The federal government, which regulates aged care services, said it was closely monitoring the situation. A spokesperson for Aged Care Minister Sam Rae reaffirmed Labor’s commitment to improving standards in the sector.
“Enrolled nurses are a highly skilled part of the care mix delivering care minutes in the aged care system, and the Labor Government values their important work,” the spokesperson said.
The government has mandated that at least one Registered Nurse (RN) be on site at all times in residential aged care, a requirement that came into effect in 2023. However, concerns are growing that some providers are now reducing EN numbers to afford compliance with the RN mandate.
While there is no legal requirement for aged care providers to employ ENs, the QNMU fears that BlueCare’s actions could set a dangerous precedent.
“UnitingCare Queensland and BlueCare have a long tradition of cutting nurse numbers and hours,” Ms Beaman said. “They cut care during COVID-19, the Aged Care Royal Commission and clearly this continues. Queensland’s elderly, and those who care for them, deserve better.”
BlueCare is owned and operated by UnitingCare Queensland and has previously reported annual revenues exceeding $2 billion. Despite this, ENs are being paid just $39 an hour to deliver essential clinical care, while residents and their families can pay up to $650,000 for a bed deposit and more than $50,000 annually in fees.
As public scrutiny intensifies, the union says further action is pending and has vowed to continue fighting the cuts.
