Oct 07, 2020

Federal budget 2020: nurses and aged care workers had hoped for more than a “thank you”

The Treasurer may have acknowledged Australia’s local ‘heroes’, our healthcare workers, for their courage, commitment and compassion throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but last night’s Budget provides too little investment in nursing and midwifery and even less for aged care workers, according to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF). 

The ANMF has also questioned the Government’s claim of ‘record funding for aged care’, given it  is deferring action in chronically-understaffed nursing homes, until the completion of the Royal  Commission in early 2021. 

ANMF Federal Secretary, Annie Butler, said today: “It’s a wonderful gesture for the Treasurer to thank Australia’s healthcare workers, on behalf of a grateful nation and the Government. The Treasurer said they should be rewarded for their efforts and rightly so. But despite nurses, midwives and personal care workers producing extraordinary efforts to protect and defend  Australians’ health during the pandemic, especially in aged care, this Budget offers them little reward. 

“There is little investment in the nursing and midwifery workforce and even less for our aged care workers. Instead, the Government is deferring action in aged care yet again, by waiting for the release of the Royal Commission’s final report in February.  

“It’s disappointing that there’s no action on job security and no action of improving wages and conditions for aged care workers. So, despite the much-vaunted promises of meaningful measures for working women, this Budget fails to deliver – the promised ‘thanks’ is just more words, not real  action. 

“Even the additional 23,000 extra home care places will do little to reduce the long waiting list of over 100,000 elderly Australians waiting up to 12-months or more for an appropriate home care package. 

“If jobs are the cornerstone of the national economic recovery-plan, the ANMF is calling on the Government to act now and address the dangerously inadequate levels of qualified nurses and care staff working in aged care.” 

Ms Butler said the ANMF welcomed the Budget’s funding for mental health services, the NDIS and PBS listings for drugs to treat a range of diseases, including ovarian cancer, leukaemia, melanoma  and Parkinson’s disease. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. What a disgraceful slap in the face to Residential Care operations and their staff. Everyone including the Royal Commission have stressed the dire need for funding rectification and not one red cent!

    Much deserved pay increases have been swept away along with a strengthening of the sector towards sustainability.

    Sadly the Royal Commission will deliver its recommendations in an election year, I fear for Australia’s elderly. They have been forgotten by the Morrison Government.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Nurse who tied resident’s leg to chair has charge dismissed

  An assistant nurse has had an assault charge against her dismissed, after the magistrate said he believed the accused was genuinely trying to help the resident. Chancal Arokianathan had been working as a carer for 30 years, and up until the incident had an “unblemished record”, according to a report by the ABC. Just... Read More

Royal Commission survey: only one in four people in residential or home care feel their needs are met

Only around one-quarter of the people living in a residential aged care facility or receiving a home care package feel that their care needs are always met, according to new surveys by the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI). Read More

Healthy diet options for older people

Experiencing a loss of appetite can be extremely common for elderly people which is why maximising eating opportunities with good quality food is so important. Quality Co-ordinator Denise Burbidge and Clinical Services Manager, Leigh Mclean, explain why good food equals good nutrition, and how good nutrition decreases the likelihood of falls, fractures and hospitalisation for... Read More
Advertisement