Aged Care Nurses to Rally for Aged Care Reform

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch will be joining aged care nurses tomorrow (Tuesday 1 March 2022) at two covid safe rallies in Devonport and Launceston to mark one year since the Royal Commission found our loved ones are receiving substandard residential care because of poor staffing levels.

Despite the worsening staffing levels, the Prime Minister Scott Morrison has done nothing to fix it and refuses to mandate improved staffing levels until late 2023.

One rally is scheduled for 11.00am, outside the office of Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck. A second rally is also taking place outside the office of Liberal MP Bridget Archer in Launceston at 2pm.

ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said today “this is to demand the Morrison Government takes immediate action to address an industry in crisis”.

The Morrison Government’s avoidance of responsibility and lack of planning has led to the country’s aged care system falling under immense strain. Under Scott Morrison’s watch we have:

• Understaffed aged care facilities
• Underpaid workers and a refusal to support permanent wage increases
• Not enough free and accessible rapid antigen tests (RATs)
• Inadequate PPE
• A failed vaccine rollout and failed delivery of booster shots
• A failure to urgently implement the Royal Commission’s recommendations

  “Aged care has been one of the most critical workforces in the country throughout the pandemic, workers risk their health and safety continuously during outbreaks to ensure the safety of residents.

  “The message from our exhausted aged care nurses is loud and clear – no more talking, no more inquiries, no more deferring responsibility, only action.”

Ms Shepherd has called for more attention to be paid to the aged care sector during the Federal election campaign.

“This issue isn’t going away. How can the government sit back, and watch loved ones suffer, watch staff hit breaking point and not do anything about it? We are calling for this to be a major political issue come May.

“Our loved ones and staff deserve so much more, and the ANMF will continue to seek for the major political parties to commit to our Aged Care Campaign this election,” Ms Shepherd said.

Media Alert:

First rally:
What: Nurses and aged care workers rally to fix the crisis in aged care
Where: Outside Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck’s office, 5-7 Best Street, Devonport
When: 11.00am, Tuesday 1 March 2022.

(ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd and aged care nurses will be available for media interviews after the rally, around 11.30am.)

Second rally:
Where: Outside MP Bridget Archer’s office, 100 St John Street, Launceston When: 2.00pm, Tuesday 1 March 2022.

(ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd and aged care nurses will be available for media interviews after the rally, around 2.30pm.)