If we're to measure our greatness by the way we treat those who are most vulnerable, we also need to look after those who care for them. This is frequently mentioned in connection with school teachers, but less often to urge support for aged care workers and the efforts of their union.
Last week, aged care members of the LHMU were the first workers to use the new low paid bargaining powers of the Fair Work Act. Low paid bargaining was set up because many low paid workers, usually in areas dominated by women, have pay and working conditions that fall far short of community standards.
An LHMU media release said dedicated aged care workers are leaving because they cannot afford to exist on the low pay rates, which range from just $15.92 per hour for support staff to $18.68 per hour for qualified supervisors.
'Aged care is labour intensive but labour shortages are chronic. Staff face constant stress, physically and emotionally, struggling to do their jobs properly, not just the bare minimum and it's getting worse. Meanwhile, our population continues to age: by 2056 people 65 or over will double to between 23 pet cent and 25 per cent compared to 13 per cent in 2007.'
We might assume that it is greedy employers that are keeping them down. But it seems they have their hands tied by the Federal Government, which passed over the opportunity to provide for aged care workers in last week's Federal Budget which focused instead on deficit reduction.
Martin Laverty is CEO of Catholic Health Australia (CHA), which represents the largest employer of aged care workers in Australia. He believes the Budget failed to fund a pay increase for aged care workers because the Federal Government thinks there should be no increase.
'Catholic providers of aged care want the best for their staff to in turn provide the best care for their residents or clients. Better pay is key to this. But it's not our call. It is the Howard Government's 1997 Aged Care Act that finances aged care services. The Howard scheme has run out of puff on worker pay, and it should be scrapped.'
The Federal Government has requested the Productivity Commission conduct an inquiry over the next 12 months. Organisations such as CHA are currently investing much of their energy into the inquiry, in the hope that they will have increased funding to provide a range