As reported by Nine Papers, the Fair Work Commission has given the Federal Government until July 23 to advise whether it will fund the additional 25% pay rise being sought by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, and the Health Services Union.
The additional funding would be in addition to the $17.7 billion over four years committed by the government in the May budget, which includes an additional $10 per day per resident.
Aged Care continues to grapple with staffing issues with many providers unable to fill shifts and too few workers coming into the sector. The commission found one way of addressing this was to offer higher pay – a recommendation that was also suggested in a recent report released by superannuation fund Hesta, that found poor pay and lack of career opportunities were causing people to want to leave the industry. State of the Sector Aged Care Workforce Insights: COVID and Beyond.
If the case is successful, personal carers will receive a wage bump of approx $5 per hour, from $23.09 to 28.86 based on rates from when the application was lodged. Home care workers and registered nurses in aged care will also receive an increase if the case is successful.
Patricia Sparrow, chief executive of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA), which represents many not-for-profit providers, said the government needed to provide funding more reflective of the cost of delivering good aged care.
Big jumps in minimum pay happen rarely in Australia’s industrial system and are made much easier by government funding support. The only successful equal remuneration, which is a legal technique to raise the wages of workers underpaid because of their gender, was granted in 2012 for community and social workers after the Gillard government pledged $3 billion to fund it.
Health Services Union national secretary Lloyd Williams urged the government to take the same course this time around. “They can’t just rely on training alone, the government knows that there’s a fundamental traction and retention problem that goes to pay and job security,” Mr Williams said.
Final hearings by the Fair Work Commission are scheduled in 12 months’ time with a decision due after that.
What was the outcome? It is August 16th.
Hi Jamie,
We are following this and will report as soon as there is an update. You can find the schedule supplied by the FWC here – https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/decisionssigned/html/2021fwcfb4667.htm
Regards,
Sean – Inside Ageing
Hi do we know yet or are we forgotten again !
Hi Leanne,
Per the FWC schedule, the proceedings aren’t listed for hearing until July 2022 – https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/decisionssigned/html/2021fwcfb4667.htm
I’m afraid we’ll have to wait until this time to understand what the outcome will be.
Rest assured Inside Ageing is watching this closely and will report all findings.
Regards,
Sean – Inside Ageing
I absolutely love being a care worker , making a difference in the residents lives , but the pay is just unreasonable I believe we should get 10% loading per hour .
06/10/21
I work for private aged care facility in south Australia we have seen no pay increase amongst Nurses or Carers, but our CEO’s in the private sector enjoyed a 9% increase plus bonuses that they personally receive if they come under budget ….all the convenient mistakes like not ordering the correct night pad continent aides and ordering the cheapest thin bin bags… that split open, for dirty pad disposal …. And not filling shifts …all add up to CEO monetary gain,…. And oppressive modern day slavery especially for immigrants and very poor care provided for our beautiful old souls who have put their trust in us to care for them to professionally and compassionately to provide their END OF LIFE CARE…..oh and there is no pandemic leave in south Australia either. We are still expected to isolate and stay home from work and get tested and be immunised but all the time off work to do so comes out of your annual leave.
Here we go again, sweet promises being made are just made to be broken in reality. When it comes to raising salary from the poor level of profession, it will take so long to give the result. With so many twist and turn pretending the government is concern about our career but the truth is they are just good in manipulating average minded people.
My partner has just qualified for her Cert 3 in aged care/individual care. We were shocked at the level of pay rates for qualified people in this industry. The Prime Minister is all talk about increasing the appeal of aged care careers and boasting about the generous increases to spending in the budget (Edited under Inside Ageing comment policy) The facility where my partner works (Sunshine Coast) is complaining about not having enough staff but continue to ignore the obvious!!