Royal Commission into Aged Care recommendations on minimum staff time standard for nursing homes
Micah D. J. Peters A B D , Casey Marnie A B and Annie Butler CA National Policy Research Unit (Federal Office), Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
B University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia. Email: casey.marnie@unisa.edu.au
C Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Federal Office), Melbourne, Vic., Australia. Email: fedsec@anmf.org.au
D Corresponding author. Email: micah.peters@unisa.edu.au
Australian Health Review 46(4) 388-390 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH21283
Submitted: 6 September 2021 Accepted: 14 September 2021 Published: 9 November 2021
Abstract
The Royal Commission’s recommendation for nursing home minimum time standards and the Australian Government’s response do not support best practice resident care. We recommend that higher mandated minimum staffing levels and skills mix should be phased in by mid-2026.
What is known about the topic? The Australian Government has not committed to fully implementing the Commission’s recommendations for mandated minimum staff time standards.
What does this paper add? We highlight issues with the Commission’s recommendations and the Australian Government’s response where they do not support sufficient minimum time to provide best practice care.
What are the implications for practitioners? Mandated evidence-based minimum staffing levels and skills mix should be phased in by mid-2026 to support best practice care.
References
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