A Fair Work Australia full bench has ruled that preferred hours clauses used by aged care employers would have disadvantaged employees, but has quashed on procedural grounds two earlier decisions, one involving new aged care player Bupa, rejecting the clauses. The decision is a setback for employers hoping to utilise the clauses, which effectively deprive employees of overtime or other penalty rates when they volunteer to work additional hours.
Lowest number of aged care beds on record added in 2024-25
Residential aged care bed growth is being rapidly outpaced by demand, with resident numbers increasing by about 5,000 per year versus just 800 net new beds in 2024-25.