CHA WELCOMES LABOR’S PLAN TO ADDRESS AGED CARE WORKFORCE CRISIS

Australia’s not-for-profit Catholic aged care providers have applauded Labor’s five-point plan on aged care which they say will go a long way to solving the workforce crisis gripping the sector threatening to undermine care for older Australians.

Peak advisory body for the Catholic sector, Catholic Health Australia, said the response, which puts aged care at the centre of the public policy debate, is long overdue.

CHA CEO Pat Garcia said: “Anthony Albanese must be congratulated for putting aged care front and centre of his plans.

“Our members welcome Labor’s announcement on aged care wages as a necessary, sensible and responsible approach to help solve the desperate workforce supply problems facing the sector”.

“In order to address the aged care crisis, any future government must answer two questions: What is the sustainable source of funding that will secure aged care reform into the future, and how do we attract nurses and carers to do what is very important work?

“Anthony Albanese’s budget reply speech shows us that Labor has been doing its homework and their announcement tonight goes a long way to answering the difficult policy dilemma of workforce supply.”