The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMF) has launched a dispute against Opal HealthCare in the Fair Work Commission, alleging the aged care giant is not transparent in how it records mandatory care minutes.
The union – Australia’s largest, with 345,000 members – says that despite the introduction of mandatory care minute requirements two years ago, fewer staff are on the floor, and nurses and care workers are being diverted to non-care duties such as washing dishes, folding linen, serving meals, and emptying bins.
In its publication The Lamp, the NSWNMF said it is “having this fight to prove that their system is not working and that they are not allowed to cheat the system.”
“Nursing staff should be there to look after residents only, not asked to go into the kitchen or laundry because Opal refuse to hire enough staff,” the union claimed.
Opal rejects claims of non-compliance
In response, a spokesperson for Opal HealthCare – which operates 142 aged care homes and employs around 21,000 staff – told The Weekly SOURCE that the operator is fully compliant with care minute reporting standards.
The company said the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) has conducted six site audits since mandatory care minutes were introduced and, in every case, Opal was found to be 100% compliant.
“More than 13,000 Australians live at Opal HealthCare communities across the country. We provide over 20 million care minutes a year to support our residents’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing,” the spokesperson said.
“We follow all government guidelines for how care minutes are logged and, like all providers, we are regularly audited by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.”
Opal said care minutes are monitored daily in line with its values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence, and that it remains “proud to bring joy to those we care for.”
