ANMF launches national aged care campaign ‘Australia needs care you can count on’

Media Opportunity

When: Tuesday, 8 September, 12 midday
Where: Corner of Tamar and Brisbane Streets, Launceston
Who: ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd and ANMF Delegates

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) today is supporting the Federal ANMF Secretary and our own Tasmania Aged Care Delegates in the ANMF’s unveiling of a major national aged care campaign, calling on the Federal Government to address the deepening aged care crisis. The ANMF Tasmanian Branch will have Aged Care Delegates in Canberra as the campaign priorities are outlined to Federal Politicians.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) launch of ‘Australia needs care you can count on’ at Parliament House today calls on the federal government to deliver urgent reforms in the aged care sector, including mandated staffing ratios.

The campaign follows the ANMF’s recent national survey of frontline aged care workers, which found the sector was still experiencing systemic understaffing, increased workplace violence, cost-cutting and a lack of transparency for billions of dollars in taxpayer funding.

Despite some historic changes following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the ANMF campaign demands further reform in three critical areas to ensure older Australians receive the care they deserve:

• Mandated staffing ratios and skills mix across all shifts to replace the current care minutes system and align with evidence-based benchmarks, delivering higher quality care and mandating a proper framework for aged care providers to meet.
• Preventing workplace violence and aggression by implementing a 10-point plan and person-centred care planning to better protect nurses and care workers from physical, verbal and emotional violence.
• Accountability and transparency for $25 billion in aged care funding by introducing public reporting of aged care providers’ financial performance and use of public funding.

In Tasmania, ANMF aged care member surveys also captured responses from 73 aged care staff across multiple Tasmanian facilities show consistency with the national ANMF member survey results with staffing numbers and aged care workers’ roles being adversely impacted. ANMF members report regular understaffing, care workers being forced to undertake non care duties such as meal preparation and laundry duties, Registered Nurses being required to spend more and more time on reporting in front of a computer instead of with residents and Enrolled Nurses being reduced or eradicated from facilities, further reducing nursing care to residents.

‘Whilst the aged care reforms were much needed, they haven’t had the desired effect, aged care is simply just not fixed. This is why the ANMF across the Nation is highlighting that the aged care sector needs further improvement as Australia needs care you can count on.’

‘With an ageing population and increasing number of Tasmanians affected by dementia, it is critical that we have aged care facilities in Tasmania that have clear ratios and skill mix, a safe environment for staff and residents and that there is transparency on where Federal Government funds are being spent to ensure that residents and their care needs are being met safely with appropriate staff with an appropriate skill mix.

The ANMF will be holding a community awareness event today in Tasmania with members participating in a wobble board to highlight the campaign’s key messages for Tasmanians whilst Tasmanian Aged Care members advocate for these much needed priorities in Canberra.

-End-

Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au