Federal government unable to track aged care workers despite $92m scheme
Aged care homes have been given a $92m funding boost to stop staff working across multiple facilities, despite there being no way to track whether the rule is working.
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Aged care homes have been given a $92m funding boost to stop staff working across multiple facilities despite the federal government being unable to track whether the rule is working.
The government confirmed on Monday it had no way of enforcing the “one worker, one site” scheme designed to prevent staff spreading COVID-19 across multiple homes.
The funding was first made available to providers in July after workers were unintentionally spreading the virus between aged care homes, where more than 450 Australians have died over the pandemic.
The Herald Sun on Monday revealed that the government had no oversight over how many workers were still moving between facilities and did not collect that data.
Embattled Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck: “We don’t actually hold that data. But, based on my conversations with the sector, they’re working extremely hard to do that.”
When asked how he could be confident the sector was ensuring the practice was followed, he deferred to Health Minister Greg Hunt.
Asked if he could guarantee if staff would not work across multiple facilities, Senator Colbeck said some workers were required to work at more than one home.
The $92m was part of a $563m package announced on Monday, which also included a $245m injection to support providers combat COVID-19.
Senator Colbeck last week apologised for not knowing the number of coronavirus aged care deaths and “missteps” in the handling of coronavirus in nursing homes.
He dismissed suggestions he had lost Scott Morrison’s support and said he had not considered stepping down from the portfolio.
“No, I haven’t considered my resignation,” Senator Colbeck said.
“I do believe I still have the confidence of the Prime Minister.
“I should have had the data in front of me when I required it – that is not an indication of the work that I‘m doing more broadly in the portfolio.”
When asked by opposition leader Anthony Albanese why Senator Colbeck was still in charge of aged care, the Prime Minister said he had delivered money for the sector over the pandemic period.
“When additional resources are required to address the significant challenges in the aged care sector, the Minister has consistently brought forward submissions for additional support to be provided right across the board in aged care sectors,” Mr Morrison said.
But opposition ageing spokeswoman Julie Collins said that was not good enough.
“Scott Morrison continues to stand by his failed Minister for Aged Care who had been ‘sidelined’ in his portfolio and isn’t even trusted to answer questions,” Ms Collins said.
Epping Gardens Aged Care still has the biggest aged care home outbreak to date, with 214 cases, and St Basil’s has recorded 203.
On Monday there were 1225 active cases in nursing homes across the state.