Media release – Senator Helen Polley, Senator for Tasmania; The Hon. Julie Collins, Member for Franklin, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness; Carol Brown, Senator for Tasmania; Brian Mitchell, Member for Lyons; Anne Urquhart, Senator for Tasmania, Government Whip; Catryna Bilyk, Senator for Tasmania, 29 November 2022
AGED CARE NURSES DESERVE BETTER
The Tasmanian Federal Parliamentary Labor Team are concerned about Southern Cross Care Tasmania’s plans to restructure and make redundant sections of its skilled nursing workforce.
Qualified and experienced enrolled nurses and carers are fundamental to the aged care workforce because they provide direct care to some of the most vulnerable people within our community.
The Albanese Government is concerned about the actions of a minority of providers to reclassify aged care workers, such as food preparation staff, so they can directly care for residents.
We are also highly concerned some providers are making enrolled nurses redundant because of incorrect claims these roles are no longer funded by the Government.
Aged care workers and the Tasmanian community deserve better.
No employee deserves to have their employment terminated after years of service to the sector and when the Federal Government is bolstering funding for the aged care workforce across the country.
We urge Southern Cross Care Tasmania to reconsider its decision.
The Albanese Government strongly values the vital role enrolled nurses play in delivering care to older Australians.
As recommended by the Royal Commission, enrolled nurses need to be included in the direct care workforce to ensure there is the right mix of skills to deliver high quality care.
The Government has tasked the Department of Health and Aged Care to provide a response for Government which will prevent this from happening.
We will always put the needs of vulnerable older Australians first and support the workers that deliver this critical care.
The Albanese Government is providing $5.4 billion over four years from 2022-23 to increase the amount of direct care aged care residents receive, including for enrolled nurses.
