Aged care policy reform crucial to attract workers

Full article issued by Flinders University.

An ARC-supported study published by Flinders University’s Caring Futures Institute and The University of Adelaide has shown that work-related stress, lack of career progression and up-skilling opportunities are key deficiencies in Australia’s aged care sector.

The researchers found that casual staff are working across multiple homes to secure liveable pay, as part of practices attributed to high COVID-19 infection and death rates, and call for an immediate shift in government policy to help attract young Australians into an aged car sector, to combat severe workforce shortages.

32 aged care staff working for not-for-profit organisations participated in the study, with five main themes identified in relation to their reasons for entering and remaining in the industry based on the challenges being faced in the residential and community care environments.

'Issues relating to the attraction and retention of aged care workers and the transition of working between residential and community care settings are complex and influenced by personal, institutional and societal factors. Addressing those issues needs collective actions among policymakers, education providers and aged care organisations,' says lead author, Professor Lily Xiao.

This study is part of a large study entitled ‘Achieving a skilled and sustainable aged care workforce for Australia’ funded through the ARC's Linkage Projects scheme.

 

Image Credit: Flinders University