Bupa Aged Care Pottsville Beach offering free accommodation for staff for up to six months
Fancy living rent-free for up to six months within walking distance of a pristine northern NSW beach? Now you can – but there’s a catch, linked to aged care of all things. See the photos
NSW
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A northern NSW aged care facility is giving workers a reprieve from Australia’s dire housing crisis by offering six months rent-free accommodation – just minutes from a pristine beach.
The Bupa Aged Care Pottsville initiative in the Tweed Shire comes as a “severe staffing shortage” impacts the aged care sector across northern NSW.
The rent-free scheme means Bupa Aged Care workers at the Pottsville, Ballina or Banora Point facilities can stay at a newly refurbished staff quarters at the Pottsville site – rent-free for up to six months while they look for more permanent accommodation in the area.
Plans to convert a residents wing into a 22-room staffing quarters were approved by council after they were submitted in July. A mix of six overseas and domestic workers have already taken up the offer.
Bupa Aged Care Pottsville manager Gustavo Giudice said the initiative was launched to deal with a “severe staffing shortage” across the sector.
“In the past 12 months we have had some difficulties with recruiting and attracting staff so as a business we asked what we could do that would differentiate us from the competitors?” he said.
“We had a wing with nine residents living in it and we asked them if they could relocate to a separate wing due to the staffing issues. What that did was free up 22 rooms.
“The idea was well-received by council when we submitted it in July.”
Mr Giudice said the offer was “massive” for international workers looking for work in Australia.
“We can now say to them, come to Australia and live in a small and friendly community right on the beach. It’s an amazing offer.”
The refurbished staffing quarters feature common areas including a fully stocked kitchen with new equipment, dining tables and a cosy shared lounge with a television, books and games.
Rooms are stocked with the basics but have their own private bathrooms.
Mr Giudice said the four staff living onsite were “loving the ability to work in the area and explore in their down time” while finding long-term housing without the hassle.
“Healthcare staff are very sensible and we’ve had no problems at all so far. Anything we can do to help our staff find more permanent housing, we give them our full support,” he said.
Mr Giudice said one registered nurse from Brisbane had recently purchased a house in the area but will continue to work for the organisation as she transitions from the facility to her new home.
He said he didn’t expect anyone to exceed the six-month offer, but would work with staff on a case-by-case basis.
Bupa Aged Care Pottsville houses 90 residents and is located on Ballina St, Pottsville. The facility is roughly a 20 minute walk or a five-minute drive to the beach.
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