The Morrison Government\u2019s Budget measures to address the aged care crisis have been marked a hard \u201cfail\u201d by more than 700 aged care workers, in survey results released today.<\/p>\n
While failings in the vaccination rollout for aged care workers have been aired this week, aged care workers have highlighted aged care failures in the Budget\u2019s approach to issues including low pay, job security and understaffing.<\/p>\n
In the survey workers issue a stinging rebuke to the Budget sales job, indicating a strong recognition in the workforce that $3.2 billion allocated to aged care providers will not reach older Australians or frontline workers.<\/p>\n
In a measure of the dim views of aged care workers, the Morrison Government\u2019s efforts to address five key issues facing workers in aged care received an average mark on each issue of no higher than 22 per cent.<\/p>\n
The aged care workers\u2019 rejection of the Budget follows widespread criticism of the Budget\u2019s aged care spending measures from think tanks, community members and advocates for older Australians.*<\/p>\n
In the United Workers Union survey aged care workers were asked to rate the Budget against five measures endorsed by thousands of aged care workers as necessary to improving care for older Australians, including whether the Budget:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis survey shows the Morrison Government has completely failed to convince aged care workers that the supposed record funding levels in aged care will make a meaningful difference to older Australians,\u201d United Workers Union Aged Care Director Carolyn Smith said today. \u201cAged care workers know when they are being played, and this survey shows they think the Budget is a sales job, not a reform package.<\/p>\n
\u201cAged care workers know billions of dollars of funding is going to providers, that funding is not tied to care outcomes and there is not one dollar in the funding for higher wages for aged care workers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aged care worker Jen says:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe budget did nothing for us. The budget did nothing to show that we\u2019re going to be valued as workers. And of course that\u2019s going to affect the quality of care we give our residents. We need it fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n Aged care worker Jude says:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cGiving the providers $3.2 billion to do with what they want \u2013 that\u2019s never<\/em> coming to us. This is not what we wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n Survey respondent #620<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt really saddens me to think the government has offered all this money and it’s going to all the wrong places.\u201d<\/p>\n Survey respondent #568<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe government, general population and providers have no idea about what care staff go through every day or just don’t care \u2026 no wonder aged care workers are leaving in droves and can’t get new recruits.\u201d<\/p>\n Survey respondent #567<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAged care and aged care workers are not regarded as valued human beings. This is the industry that needs attention as the residents paid their dues to build this country through sacrifices. They are the legends and their carers are doing the same sacrifices to work under appalling conditions – lack of staff continuity, short working hours, overloaded work and (too much) documentation.\u201d<\/p>\n About the survey:<\/strong><\/p>\n Aged care workers were asked to rate on a scale of 1 to 10 the Federal Government\u2019s Budget response across five questions. The results were then calculated as an average percentage:<\/p>\n A total of 725 aged care workers \u2013 681 in residential care and 44 in home care – responded to the survey between May 12 and May 28.<\/p>\n Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n Responses to the Federal Budget have been negative among think tanks and aged care advocates.<\/p>\n The Centre for Future Work found the Budget spending of $17.7 billion \u201crepresents just one-third of what is reasonably required to fully implement the Royal Commission recommendations\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Grattan Institute found \u201cthe government has failed to outline a clear vision of what older Australians should expect of their aged-care system\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n