Fair Work Australia decision puts pressure on aged care sector
The peak body representing not-for-profit aged care providers said today’s FWA decision confirmed that increased funding for aged care was essential.
Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) Acting CEO Pat Sparrow said FWA’s order to allow two unions to bargain on behalf of low-paid aged care workers made the case for improved wages.
“ACSA values aged care workers and we have maintained that providers would be in a position to pay higher wages if the funding was available,” Ms Sparrow said.
“Future wage outcomes will mean that government must meet the costs with additional funding to ensure ongoing quality services for older Australians.
Ms Sparrow said attracting and retaining staff in aged care organisations was a long-standing problem linked to the sector’s inability to pay competitive wages.
“We can only pay competitive rates if we have the funding,” she said.
“Next week’s Federal Budget should recognise the valuable and increasingly critical role of aged care services and their workers by allocating appropriate funding for services including higher wages.”
Media contact: Chris Hornsey 0419 513 432
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Fair Work Australia decision puts pressure on aged care sector
