Aged care workers eligible to receive $800 bonus payment from today

Aged care workers are asking when they will receive their bonus payment, after the government announced in February that staff in the sector would be eligible for two cash payments of up to $800 in total.

A member of HelloCare’s Aged Care Worker Support Group asked the group: “Has anyone got their bonus yet?”

The post attracted 125 comments from fellow members, all of whom are aged care workers, with many commenting on the insufficiency of the payment and lamenting the poor pay and staff shortages in aged care.

Providers can apply from March 1

The bonus in question was announced by the government on February 1, and amounts to two payments of up to $800 in total. 

A spokesperson for the Department of Health told HelloCare when aged care workers receive their payment will depend on when employers submit their application for the funds. 

Employers are required to lodge an application for the bonus with the Department. They can do this from March 1. Providers will then receive a grant funding agreement. Once they return their grant funding agreement, the Department will pay the employer.

The spokesperson said aged care employers are “encouraged” to pay the bonus to staff when they lodge their application with the Department.

The government has made three earlier bonus payments to more than 230,000 aged care workers over the course of the pandemic.

The latest bonus will be paid to care and support workers in government-subsidised home care and to direct care workers, food preparation workers and cleaners in residential aged care.

The amount of the bonus will depend on whether the worker is working in home care or residential care, and will be prorated based on the highest number of hours worked in a single week out of the four weeks leading up to those dates.

Aged care workers call for permanently higher wages

Members of the support group responded to the question saying they have not yet received their bonus, which is not surprising because applications can’t be lodged yet.

But many lamented the inadequacy of the payment, saying aged care workers need higher pay permanently and more staff employed in aged care.

Another said the bonus is “an insult to every age care worker. I’d give up this payment for staffing ratios and a pay rise that actually reflects what we do.”

A handful of support group members said their employer had increased wages when staff were short. One said her employer also hired extra staff.

“Our facility has given us a 25% pay increase the last two fortnight’s pay and hired extra staff from an agency. We have COVID cases and we are run down, exhausted.” 

“Our management listened to us… What a difference. We can actually spend that time with a resident … It is also nice looking at our payslip – just wish this was something every week.” 

She added, “This extra 25% should be what residential workers get every time.”

The unions have put forward a case for aged care workers to receive a 25% pay increase. The matter is currently before the Fair Work Commission, which is looking at the value of aged care work.

Though the aged care worker told HelloCare the extra pay will continue until staff no longer have to wear full personal protective equipment, the additional staff are no longer on site. 

“We’re all back to being run down, exhausted,” she said.

She has been working in aged care for 17 years, and over that time her pay rate has risen from $17 per hour to $23 per hour. 

“My 21 year old earns more than me,” she said.

Aged care workers “backbone” of aged care 

Minister for Health and Aged Greg Hunt said the payments acknowledge the response of the aged care workforce to the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.

“The government is providing these bonus payments to aged care workers in recognition of their dedication in continuing to care for our vulnerable older Australians during these difficult times,” Minister Hunt said.

“These workers have been caring for those who have been most at risk through the pandemic and their dedication has been outstanding.”

He added, “These payments will also be an extra bonus for those who recently retired but have responded to the request to return to work during the recent workforce shortages.”

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said, “Aged care workers are the backbone of the care and services provided to older Australians.”