General News
16 May, 2023
Aged care pay boost greeted
Aged care workers will receive 15 per cent more in their pay packets from July 1 – and one Horsham employer couldn't be happier for them. Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village spokesperson Stephen Mildred said he welcomed the move from the federal...
Aged care workers will receive 15 per cent more in their pay packets from July 1 – and one Horsham employer couldn't be happier for them.
Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village spokesperson Stephen Mildred said he welcomed the move from the federal government, which was rubber-stamped in Tuesday night's budget.
“As we've been doing it for many years, it doesn’t put any additional burden on us,” Mr Mildred said.
“It’s a competitive market and we want to have some good staff.
“The government’s decision to increase staff salaries in aged care facilities is a wise one.
“This is a response from the federal government to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which found that some employees who care for our elderly people were paid very little.”
More than 250,000 people will benefit from the government’s largest-ever pay increase to enhance aged care workers salaries, which will cost the national budget $11.3 billion over the next four years.
Federal Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said this was an essential part of the Commonwealth's strategy to expand possibilities for Australians by funding health and aged care.
“Fair wages play a major role in attracting and retaining workers to provide around-the-clock care for some of Australia’s most vulnerable people,” Ms Wells said.
“This wage decision will help more women and families to make ends meet and ensure that quality aged-care workers are less likely to contemplate leaving the sector because of pay concerns.”
UnitingCare Australia national director Claerwen Little said the move would make it "easier for devoted employees to meet their needs".
“This overdue pay rise will go a long way toward dealing with the cost-of-living crisis the lowest-paid workers are currently facing,” Mr Little said.
According to the Fair Work Commission, the increase applies to eligible employees covered by the Aged Care Award, Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry (SCHADS) Award and the Nurses Award.
The changes will take effect in an employee’s first complete pay period starting on or after June 30 this year.
The announcement was criticised by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation for lacking in detail and accountability.
“Employers will pocket unspent wages funding as they have on four previous occasions," Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said.
While the Victorian Government administers state-run aged care operators, such as Grampians Health - Australia's largest public provider of aged care - the federal government endorsed pay rise applies throughout the sector.
Grampians Health was unable to comment.