Workers and residents must be protected if SA bans two jobs

With the South Australian Government considering banning workers from working across multiple aged centres, it must move to protect aged care residents and aged care workers, United Workers Union Aged Care Director Carolyn Smith said today.

“Withdrawing workers without plans to address staff shortages and the impact on low-paid workers could have devastating impacts on residents and workers alike,” Ms Smith said.

“Only yesterday the Royal Commission referred to US research that found a lack of aged care staff was the strongest indicator of a facility being at higher risk of serious coronavirus outbreaks.

“It’s also not right that some of Australia’s lowest-paid workers are being forced to bear the economic cost of this pandemic. Aged care workers have turned up every day during this pandemic, putting themselves on the frontline. They should not now suffer a loss of wages they simply can’t afford.”

Ms Smith said the South Australian Government needed to announce extra staffing measures to make up staff shortfalls, and measures to address falls in income for low-paid workers who are forced to give up shifts at a secondary provider.

“Longer term, we encourage the SA Government and the Federal Government to adopt a national system for workers who have two jobs that protects residents and workers,” Ms Smith said.

“We understand the need to have workers based in one centre only during times of heightened risk about coronavirus.

“But the reality is the aged care system was already in crisis due to staff shortages before the pandemic hit. Now it’s extremely vulnerable to even the slightest cutbacks in staff.”

Ms Smith said a national approach could follow the path established in Victoria, which includes:

• $1500 worker hardship packages.
• Aged care workers who work two jobs have been able to choose their primary provider and have that primary provider make up their lost shifts.
• The secondary provider has been required to keep the shifts open for the worker after the crisis.

“We require an effective national plan to ensure the pressures of the pandemic do not totally derail the aged care system,” Ms Smith said.

“In a United Workers Union survey highlighted in the Royal Commission 90 per cent of workers said they were unable to complete their tasks in the available time.

“Every uncompleted task is an older Australian who is not receiving the care that they deserve, and that is a terrible indictment on the system.”