Media release – Health and Community Services Union, 14 December 2022

SCC resident’s family member speaks out as petition for Board’s resignation signed by over 1000 community members

Over 1000 concerned residents, families and members of the community have now signed a petition started by Lisa Mott, a family member of a Southern Cross Care resident, which calls for Southern Cross Care’s Board and CEO Robyn Boyd to step down over their proposed cuts to over 170 essential roles across the state.

Southern Cross Care’s negligent “household model” endangers resident care by abolishing Enrolled Nurses, Leisure & Lifestyle workers and Servery staff from Tasmanian facilities, leaving it to already-understaffed carer workers to provide all of these services to older Australians.

Lisa’s family member is a resident at SCC’s Yaraandoo facility in the northwest, and Lisa is today speaking out on behalf of the families who have called for the CEO and Board to go.

“The CEO and the Board should be ashamed,” said Lisa Mott. “They must resign. I’ve been blown away by the community support. At the same time though, I’m disappointed that we even need to start a petition to get decent care for aged care residents. It should be standard.”

The Health and Community Services Union backs families’ demand for SCC management to step down.

“We feel that the CEO and the members of this Board are callous individuals who are driven by corporate greed, not any concern for residents,” said HACSU Industrial Manager Robbie Moore. “It’s time they stood aside to make way for management who actually care about the welfare of older Australians.”

Lisa echoed union concerns for residents’ welfare due to management decision-making.

“I think it shows a complete disrespect from Southern Cross Care to the staff members and the residents,” she said. “When Southern Cross Care came out and said that they had spoken to residents and families saying that we were okay with it, we hadn’t heard about any of it. For them to say that we’re happy with the proposed changes is a blatant lie.”

“My family member couldn’t get out of bed all day. That’s not the carers’ fault. They’re great. Management need to re-evaluate their values. Stop thinking about money and start thinking about the residents and how they would feel if they were in that position. If they think that’s okay, then they really need to rethink being on the Board of Southern Cross Care.”

Lisa’s community petition continues to collect signatures.