Australia only added 44 Registered Nurses to its aged care workforce in the last quarter, meaning the sector will be short an estimated almost 6,000 RNs by October 2024, when mandated care minutes increase to 44 minutes for RNs.
“Estimates revealed that 30% of aged care providers are already failing to meet current care requirements, and we are seriously concerned that this will only get worse from October as the Government continues to sit on their hands," said Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston (pictured).
“The fact that Labor has not managed to reduce the staffing shortfall by even 1% shows critical failings in their approach to the current challenges."
The pressure created by workforce challenges is being compounded by uncertainty caused by the delayed release of the Aged Care Taskforce's Final Report, the Shadow Minister said.
Last week, Shadow Minister Ruston told The SOURCE the Government is being "secretive" by not releasing the report.
"The level of secrecy around the outcome of the Taskforce is astounding, with even the Government’s own acting Inspector General of Aged Care revealing that he has not received a briefing on the report despite requesting one," the Shadow Minister said in a statement.
"Labor’s continued refusal to be transparent with the report has reaffirmed suspicions that it is concealing plans for financing the aged care sector until after the Dunkley by-election.
“The last thing that aged care providers need when they are trying to care for our older Australians is for the Government to inflict even greater uncertainty on them regarding their future financing and sustainability,” Shadow Minister Ruston said.
