Peninsula Villages CEO Shane Neaves has called out the Morrison Government with an open letter highlighting the roles of the many staff who work in aged care, but are ineligible for its COVID-19 Workforce Retention Bonus Grant, which rolls out this month.

You can read the full piece on LinkedIn here.

As we reported here, the Government pledged in March to provide up to $800 and $600 (before tax) respectively for direct aged care workers and those who provide home care, via two quarterly payments.

Laundry, cleaning, grounds, catering, maintenance and administration staff all miss out.

“I openly invite the government to address the ‘non-direct care’ workers, who have risked their own personal safety to work in the aged care sector and provide important interaction to our residents, as to why they aren’t being rewarded. Only recognising one side of the sector is poor form,” Mr Neaves says.

“Any management, human resources or workplace culture specialist will reveal that the promotion of equality, teamwork and an engaged workforce will lead to increased productivity, retention and success.”

Instead, the bonus divides the aged care workforce into those rewarded and those who are not, he says.

“’It does this at a time when everyone needs to work as a team and be acknowledged for the important role, they play in providing holistic care,” Mr Neaves added.

Peninsula Villages has over 300 residents across three aged care homes on the NSW Central Coast.