Aged care providers required to employ an on-site infection control officer in return for federal funding

The federal government will commit $563.4 million to aged care including $245m to help facilities deal with COVID-19. Labor wants assurances staff are not working between facilities.

Aged care providers will be required to employ an on-site infection control officer in return for federal funding, Health Minister Greg Hunt says.

As part of a $563.4m injection into aged care, $245m will be available to facilities from October for COVID-19 related costs with regional providers able to claim $1435 per resident.

The latest batch of funding means the federal government has put more than $1.5bn into the sector since the outbreak of COVID-19 including $205m for COVID-19 support payment in June.

But more than 400 deaths have occurred in Victorian aged care, including eight at a Highton facility, since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Extending payments for aged care workers to remain at one facility ($154.5m from November); and expanding home support for those in aged care that choose to leave temporarily due to COVID-19 concerns ($71.4m) is also part of funding announced by the federal government, who regulate the sector, this week.

Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson said providers accessing the $245m tranche would need to prove it was being used for COVID-19 related costs.

“Funding may also be used to address other COVID-19 related costs such as increased staffing costs, communications with families and managing visitation arrangements,” Senator Henderson said.

Mr Hunt said $92.4m had already been provided to aged care centres in COVID-19 hot spots to keep workers at one facility.

Corio MP Richard Marles said the federal government needed to provide certainty aged care workers weren’t working between facilities.

“We’re still not hearing valid answers from Scott Morrison and his government about whether or not there’s people working in multiple aged care facilities,” the Labor deputy leader said.

“Responsibility needs be taken by the Commonwealth Government and that’s what people who are working in aged care, who are living in aged care and have families in aged care are absolutely crying out for.”

In a senate speech Ms Henderson said the federal government regulated aged care but the states, and private and not-for-profit organisations were responsible for their operation.

“The fact is that some 60,000 residents in aged-care facilities die every year. It’s a tragic statistic, but that is a fact,” Ms Henderson said on Monday.

“But what Labor is attempting to do is attribute the deaths of some 450 aged-care residents (Australia-wide) and seven home care residents to the Minister.”

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Originally published as Aged care providers required to employ an on-site infection control officer in return for federal funding