We are all too aware of the shortage of qualified nurses in the aged care sector and the impact this can have on both staff and patients. To make matters worse, the nursing labour force is ageing. The average age of employed nurses increased from 41.2 years in 1999 to 43.3 years in 2004. Over the same period, the proportion of nurses aged 50 years and over increased from 21.5% to 29.8%. This trend could see even less nurses working in the sector in the future.
Prime Minister elect Kevin Rudd’s Government has recognised this potential crisis. They have committed to boosting the number of qualified nurses and personal care workers in aged care services. One of the key actions Labor has promised is investing $6.6 million over five years to encourage 1,000 qualified nurses, who have been out of the health workforce for more than 12 months, to work in the aged care sector.
As part of this scheme, nurses who re-enter the aged care industry will receive cash bonuses of up to $6,000 after six months back on the job and a further $3,000 after 18 months. Further to this, aged care providers will receive $1,000 for each nurse who re-enters the workforce to assist with the costs of re-training and re-skilling.
The new Government has also promised more funding for aged care beds, as well as $158 million for 2,000 transition care beds that allow older Australians who are waiting in hospital beds more time to make arrangements for their longer term care. To encourage the introduction of more beds, $300 million of loans at zero real interest rates will be provided to aged care providers to make up to 2,500 permanent residential aged care beds available to older Australians sooner.
One of the big promises that was made early in the campaign was the establishment of an Ambassador for Ageing to positively promote respect for and the value of older Australians. For the aged care industry, this could mean more attention paid to the needs of the industry and another target for lobbying the cause.
Of course, whilst these commitments look promising, this doesn’t mean the industry should become complacent. There is still a long way to go in increasing the Government’s investment in the quality care of older people. There are still improvements to be made in ensuring there are enough beds and satisfied staff to cater for our ageing population.
