The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has officially concluded support for aged care following the end of the winter COVID-19 wave.
ADF support officially ended on 30 September after having been extended by Defence Minister Richard Marles and Aged Care Minister Anika Wells in mid-July, a move which both ministers stressed was a temporary one.
Mr Marles thanked the ADF personnel who had been deployed to aged care homes, saying they had gone “above and beyond the call of duty”.
“The ADF is well trained and qualified to provide extra support to our country when needed; however, it is now time for ADF resources to be directed into other areas of priority.
“We all know when there is a crisis, whether it be through COVID-19, floods or fires, the ADF steps up without question,” he said.
Ms Wells (pictured) added that the Government had “left no stone unturned” when it came to its COVID-19 response.
“We have boosted the availability of a trained aged care surge workforce, driven up vaccination rates, provided protective measures such as RAT kits and PPE, and lifted the supply and use of antivirals for aged care residents.
“I thank the ADF personnel who stepped up to lend a helping hand to homes when they needed it most,” she said.
More than 80% of aged care residents have now received fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
