Sasha Andrews, CEO of NSW Mid North Coast stand-alone provider Woolgoolga & District Retirement Village (WDRV), is calling for a major overhaul in aged care policy, warning that current reforms are prioritising bureaucracy over the actual needs of residents.
In her contribution to The Weekly SOURCE’s Federal Election wishlist series, Sasha urges whichever party forms Government to delay the new Aged Care Act set to commence on 1 July 2025. She says the rules that accompany the Act have not been fully released or are still being consulted on, leaving providers little time to comply and prepare staff.
“We can’t be ready for something we haven’t even seen yet,” Sasha said. “If the rules aren’t released until June, we’ll have less than a month to implement necessary changes. That’s simply not enough time.”
Her first priority is to ensure reforms are meaningful for both care recipients and the providers who deliver the services.
Sasha criticises the growing bureaucratic burden, which she says detracts from quality care.
“The bureaucracy is swallowing up senior staff time. They’re buried under paperwork and compliance tasks, and they’re no longer able to be ‘on the floor’ with residents,” she explained. “It’s making it harder to provide the tailored care residents need.”
Sasha also argues that care minute targets, especially for smaller regional providers, are failing to support high-quality care. She points out that the mandated care minutes often don’t account for the reality on the ground.
“Regionally, it’s extremely difficult to find enough staff to meet the mandated care minutes,” she said. “In some cases, the CEO is providing direct care, but that care doesn’t count under the current framework. It’s happening, but it’s not recognised.”
Her second priority is to revise care minute targets, which are not working for smaller, regional facilities.
She also calls for reformed workforce strategies to reduce barriers for overseas candidates to join the sector and to ensure that staff are properly trained to meet evolving care demands.
“The incoming Government needs to focus on what’s practical and achievable for those actually delivering care – not just what looks good on paper for the bureaucrats designing the system,” she concluded.
Established in 1991, WDRV currently offers 30 Independent Living Units, and a 66-bed aged care home providing both permanent and respite care.
Read the previous articles in our 'political wishlist' series:
Support at Home reforms must be staged: HammondCare CEO Andrew Thorburn's 'political wishlist'
Level the playing field on payroll tax: Homestyle Aged Care CEO Tim Humphries’ political wishlist
Seven years since a workforce strategy: Juniper CEO Russell Bricknell’s ‘political wishlist’
“Whining for more money won’t cut it”: IRT CEO Patrick Reid’s political wishlist
Anne McCormack CEO of mecwacare wants to see greater recognition of palliative care in aged care
