Wage case recognises historic undervalued work of aged care nurses

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has welcomed the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) further recognition that the work of aged care workers has been historically undervalued in its Stage 3 decision for the aged care industry work value case announced today.  The FWC has concluded that, for ‘work value reasons’, award rates for direct […]

Government rules out new tax or levy to fund aged care

The federal government has ruled out imposing a new levy or tax to fund aged care costs, as well as steering clear of the means-testing treatment of the family home, at today’s release of the Aged Care Taskforce’s Final Report. The taskforce, chaired by Aged Care Minister Anika Wells, was established to examine how to […]

Nursing, midwifery, and care worker workforce reform

Nursing and midwifery workforce reform in Australia is essential for adapting to changing healthcare needs, improving patient outcomes, addressing health disparities, and ensuring that the right number of skilled professionals are empowered and enabled to provide timely and high-quality care. It demands strategic planning, improved education, and policy changes to help build a sustainable workforce […]

Aged care reform

Following years of neglect, significant aged care reforms in 2023 marked a turning point in the nation’s commitment to ensuring the delivery of safe and high-quality care for our elderly Australians. The Albanese Government implemented sweeping reforms across the sector, highlighted by pivotal legislation mandating the presence of a registered nurse 24/7 in every nursing […]

Aged care residents receive top care for continence but not for mental health, end-of-life or infection, world-first study finds

Aged care residents receive best practice care for continence issues but substandard attention when it comes to other common conditions including mental health, end-of-life care and urinary tract infections, according to world-first Australian research. Led by the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University, the study, published today in the international journal BMC Medicine, […]

Registrations open for draft new Aged Care Act consultation workshops

A new Aged Care Act is being introduced in response to a key recommendation made by the landmark Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The new Act will aim to put the rights and needs of older people at the centre of aged care and improve how aged care services are delivered to […]

New members appointed to National Aged Care Advisory Council

The federal government has appointed new members to the National Aged Care Advisory Council. Established in response to recommendation seven of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Council provides expert advice to government on key matters related to the aged care sector including implementation of aged care reforms, and building the […]

‘It’s the old people’: Why enrolled nurses (ENs) belong in aged care

Last year (2022), just two weeks out from Christmas, Tasmanian enrolled nurse Julie Wicks and dozens of her colleagues working across Southern Cross Care’s aged care facilities were asked to front up to a Monday morning meeting over Skype. Shock quickly spread after staff learned about plans to make all ENs redundant, meaning they wouldn’t […]