Staffing policy in aged care must look beyond the numbers
Sarah Wise
Centre for Health Economic Research and Evaluation, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. Email: sarah.wise@uts.edu.au
Australian Health Review 44(6) 829-830 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH20312
Submitted: 30 October 2020 Accepted: 30 October 2020 Published: 1 December 2020
Journal Compilation © AHHA 2020 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted an aged care system struggling to meet the needs of vulnerable Australians. Staffing levels and skill mix in aged care have declined, whereas the health and social needs of an older and more clinically complex population have risen. Increasing staff and improving personal care workers’ skills and education are essential steps to quality aged care in Australia, but it will not be possible without funding models that foster secure employment, development opportunities and long-term career pathways.
Keywords: aged care, health funding and financing, health policy, workforce.
References
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