 Home Media Resources Action Not Reports Needed - April 21, 2005
Action Not Reports Needed - April 21, 2005
The Health Services Union today described as a "poor joke" the Federal Government's claims that it was adequately looking after the aged care workforce.
HSU national secretary Craig Thomson said the release of a new Aged Care Workforce Strategy today was a transparent attempt to disguise the government's real failings in addressing the welfare of staff and residents.
"If the government is doing such a good job in aged care why is it that:
- It has stripped away any minimum staffing levels in aged care facilities leads to the situation where residents are commonly denied the most basic care because of understaffing;
- The government is spending hundreds of millions extra on the industry without compelling one provider to increase staffing or use the additional funding to lift wages in the sector which are as low as $13 an hour;
- The government continues to ignore the results of its own workforce survey which found that only 13 per cent of nurses and 19 per cent of staff overall believed that they had enough time to properly care for residents;
- Minister Bishop refused to match the recommendations of the Hogan Report, commissioned by the government, which recommended a huge increase in staff training and 2,700 extra university places for nurses;
- There are no minimum qualification for staff in aged care leading to the situation where people with no skills or training are being left alone to care for 50 or more residents at a time;
- Industrial relations changes the government is imposing will make it easier to sack aged care staff without reason, harder for them to get a pay rise and will reduce their award entitlements;
"The reality of the government's approach to aged care is far different from the rhetoric.
"It is time to do something about the conditions faced by residents and staff rather than talk about them.
"This report will gather dust on a shelf if the government's response to reports prepared in the past is any indication."
Contact Details
Craig Thomson
Ph: 0419498691
hsu@hsu.net.au
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