The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) has called for an injection of almost $500 million to close the wages gap and attract 20,000 new nursing staff.

 

The call comes ahead of the release of the final Productivity Commission’s (PC) report into aged care. It is understood that the report will outline a funding overhaul of the sector, but the ANF says any reform must also address the provision of care for elderly Australians and the almost $500 million required to close the wages gap for nurses and assistants in nursing (AINs) working in aged care.

 

“Fixing aged care can’t wait – it has to happen now,” ANF Federal Secretary, Lee Thomas, said.

 

“Whilst new economic measures are imperative, the job of reforming aged care is only half done if it doesn’t include the urgent funding that must address critical workforce issues such as funding for more nursing staff.”

 

The ANF says the sector needs more than 20,000 extra nursing staff to provide quality care for elderly Australians in residential aged care.

 

“The shortage is getting worse and we will need to triple our aged care workforce to meet the demand of an ageing population,” Ms Thomas explained.

 

“We need to fix the shortage now so that we aren’t starting this aged care reform on the back foot.