Anika Wells, Minister for Aged Care, told HammondCare’s International Dementia Conference in Sydney that the workforce is “the number one” issue in the aged sector.

Speaking at the conference last week, Ms Wells said workforce is an issue for “the whole care economy”.

“We have to signpost where we’re going because the Royal Commission (into Aged Care Quality and Safety) asked us to provide a better standard of care and there is no point running away from the problem.

“We are going to address migration, make the sector more attractive – the pay rise is coming – but also we have to provide better pathways.

“Nurses feel alone, it’s almost a war zone out there. So we can’t just train people up then throw people out there and not give them the support they need to stay.

“We are looking at all of that, I promise you,” she said.

Ms Wells said the Federal Government will fully fund the pay rise coming to aged care workers.

“Both fairness and the market reality dictate that pay will need to rise and it will rise because we have written to the Fair Work Commission for a much-needed pay rise,” she told the conference.

“We want it to be significant, we want it to be meaningful and we have said that in our submission. We expect a decision over the summer.

“This Government is fully committed to fully funding that pay rise when it comes. More carers need more time to care and that is a critical pillar to building a more robust sector.”