AUSTRALIA | Minister for Aged Care Hon. Anika Wells said that 2025 will herald a new era for quality aged care in Australia.
Following her recent appointment to Cabinet, Minister Wells said the Albanese Government was committed to continuing its major investment into aged care this year with record support for workers and providers.
Valuing the aged care workforce has remained a strong priority. More than 340,000 aged care workers in residential and home care will receive an increase in their award wages, which will recognise their value and the important work they do. For some workers this is the first award increase, with a further increase commencing from 1 October 2025.
The aged care sector will have access to funding to pass on this award wage increase with the government’s AUD $3.8 billion investment over four years. This is on top of the AUD $11.3 billion commitment in 2023 to fund the previous 15 percent award wage increase.
The Albanese Government has also continued to support improved career pathways for nurses in aged care and has invested in increasing the supply of skilled and dedicated nurses in aged care. This includes AUD $18.4 million in the Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements program that will support up to 8,000 nursing students to experience firsthand the rewards of caring for older people in aged care. It also provides AUD $10.3 million to continue supporting nurses from the start of their careers through the Aged Care Transition to Practice Program. This funding will support up to 2,125 nurses to build their skills and experience in their first aged care role.
From 1 January, all Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) meal providers have received a 10 percent cost-of-living top-up of their meals funding to alleviate cost pressures and reduce impact on service delivery. This will increase funding to CHSP meals providers by AUD $37 million over the next three years.
Minister Wells said that this was a historic addition to its previously implemented reforms in the sector.
“The Albanese Government funding supports around 340,000 aged care residential and home care workers to be paid fairly and valued for the important work they do. These award wage increases apply to workers who provide more direct support and care to older people – personal care workers, assistants in nursing, recreational activities officers and home care workers,” she said.
Minister Wells added that the wage increases will also apply to those worker’s whose roles support the running and functioning of residential care services, such as administration staff, drivers, maintenance staff and gardeners, laundry hands, cleaners and food service assistants.
“While our AUD $37 million investment in CHSP meals will help providers to continue delivering an essential service this year – bringing healthy meals to older Australians to help them stay healthy and connected to their community. Our investment is focused on delivering the largest improvement to aged care in 30 years, building and strengthening the aged care workforce with better and fair wages, and improving aged care for over 500,000 older people seeking aged care every year.”
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