BUDGET FAILS TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE CRISIS IN AGED CARE
March 29, 2022
CHA WELCOMES LABOR’S PLAN TO ADDRESS AGED CARE WORKFORCE CRISIS
March 31, 2022
Australia’s not-for-profit Catholic health and aged care providers are disappointed by the lack of ongoing assistance and the structural reform that is needed to support Australia’s most vulnerable in palliative care, mental health and social services.
While the measures announced in Tuesday’s Budget will provide some temporary relief to some in the community labouring under the cost of living it missed the opportunity to deliver lasting change.
Social services
The $420 cost of living tax offset as well as a $250 payment for welfare recipients is a welcome immediate relief for marginalised individuals and families facing the rising cost of living, inflation, and fuel costs.
However Catholic Health Australia’s Director of Strategy & Mission Brigid Meney said: “Recognising these experiences as temporary hardships with one-off payments does not adequately address the social inequity that drives systemic barriers to financial stability and health.
“Our report into COVID’s impact on society showed exactly how the pandemic has exposed pre-existing social inequalities already prevalent in the country.
“COVID exacerbated the hardships of those who are marginalised, such as people with a disability, women, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and those of a low social economic status.
“Budget measures could have done more to address some of the gaping holes that have existed long before COVID, beyond temporary relief.”
Disability
Ms Meney said CHA members welcomed the $33.9 billion allocated to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, including a $249.1 million investment into growing and supporting the workforce, a core component of maintaining safety and quality of care for vulnerable Australians.
“For the duration of the pandemic, those with a disability have been some of the most isolated demographics, and bolstering a workforce that supports their participation, health and wellbeing is imperative,” she said.
“Making sure vulnerable Australians get quality care and the assistance they need is paramount and should be a priority.”
Mental Health
Catholic Health Australia welcomes the attention mental health is receiving in the 2022 Budget, $648.6 million with a doubling of mental health funding since the 2021-13 budget.
However, given the rise in mental health challenges since Covid, CHA maintains that large scale reform of the system would improve outcomes for the most vulnerable in society.
Ms Meney said: “A core mission of CHA is to take the healing mission of Jesus to all who need support, but when it comes to mental health, funding and system flaws mean that timely access is still limited primarily to those who can afford it.
“A comprehensive plan to better incorporate private providers into mental health services and reduce the burden on the public system would go a long way to addressing the current challenges many face in accessing appropriate and timely community and acute care.
“Consideration by the Government of mandatory inclusion of community (out-of-hospital/non-admitted) and online mental health service delivery for all private hospital insurance tiers as well as abolishing all waiting periods for mental health services would include challenges but may yield significant benefits.”
Palliative Care
As the most significant providers of palliative care in the private health system CHA members are disappointed by the extremely modest $7.5 million funding allocated towards key initiatives in the 2022 budget.
Ms Meney said: “It is disappointing that as more states push through the legalisation and implementation of voluntary assisted dying laws, people are not given a real choice between ending their life prematurely and receiving proper palliative care that would relieve suffering for them and their families and allow them to live well, experiencing care and compassion until their death.
“One of the key findings from recent Catholic advocacy is the profound lack of understanding among legislators of the benefits of palliative care, and advances in effective pain mitigation techniques.
“The Commonwealth Government can play a leading role in ensuring consistent high quality palliative care is available across Australian jurisdictions, to ensure no Australian is left to choose assisted suicide because high quality palliative care was not made available to them.”
