Support for workers and home care packages welcomed

The Federal Budget released Tuesday night has confirmed the Australian Government will fund a significant pay increase for more than 250,000 aged care workers.

NVC Group Chairman Janine Reed welcomed the Government’s investment in the aged care sector and said the workforce wage increase would go a way towards alleviating workforce pressures in the sector in the future.

“I welcome the Australian Government allocating $11.3 billion over the next four years to fund the Fair Work Commission’s decision to provide an interim increase of 15 per cent to award wages for many aged care workers,” she said.

“However, while last night’s budget is welcome news for aged care nurses, personal carers, activities officers and head chefs and cooks, there are still numerous other workers in our sector who are yet to be supported and be awarded a wage increase to reflect the challenging work they do.

“It is my hope in the future a pay rise afforded by the Federal Government is awarded to all of the sector’s employees, because it really is a team effort to deliver the complex and varied support elderly people in our community need.”

Ms Reed said the significant boost to funding for the Government’s Home Care packages in the 2023-24 budget was also welcome news.

“Our organisation is finding the popularity of the Government’s Commonwealth Home Support Programme and Home Care packages is really growing and our staff are enjoying providing housework, garden maintenance, personal care and more in the comfort of people’s homes,” she said.

“The additional $166.8 million in last night’s budget for an additional 9,500 Home Care packages is very welcome news.”

Other budget measures supporting the aged care sector in the 2023-24 Federal Budget included:

• Fee-free training courses for carers and funding HECS places and support for aged care nurses
• Providing additional training places for Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme workers in priority sectors like aged care
• And $1.7 million to appoint an interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner.