The Australian Defence Force (ADF) may continue to support residential aged care homes beyond mid-August as calls mount for the assistance program to be extended.
ADF support, introduced in February by the Morrison Government and originally slated to end in June, was extended by the Albanese Government into August, though as of last week only around 15 personnel were in use at aged care homes.
There are now calls to maintain the program, with Victorian Premier Dan Andrews, ACCPA interim CEO Paul Sadler, and United Workers Union aged care director Carolyn Smith all saying mid-August is too soon to end ADF support.
Health Minister Mark Butler is reportedly in discussions to continue ADF deployment, while Aged Care Minister Anika Wells (pictured) told Seven’s Sunrise that the ADF would stay in aged care “if it needs to”.
“The ADF coming into aged care is an extreme measure and they have never left, they are still there this winter.
“What’s been done since then is a build-up of the surge workforce available to the Department of Health. That surge workforce actually filled 1900 shifts last week. That surge workforce is continually available as we face shortages this winter.
“So, whilst the ADF has served, and we thank them, I guess my priority is making sure that we, the health team, has the capacity to meet those shortages, not the ADF,” she said.
