Census to show changing needs in aged care housing and services

This year’s Census is set to reveal how Australia’s ageing population is redefining aged care jobs and services, says National Skills Commission.

Assistant in nursing Sarah Greeno, resident Valerie Stacey, CEO Atul Kumar Singh, support staff Mandy Ward and HR manager Nadia Marroni at Wongaburra Garden Settlement. Picture: Tara Croser.

Australia’s up-ended labour market in the Covid era makes this month’s Census especially timely. The National Skills Commission’s (NSC) forensic focus on regions, industries and occupations is building a clear picture of the nation’s current and future skills, education and job needs – and National Skills Commissioner Adam Boyton said accurate Census data on occupational employment by region was critical.

“This sort of data enables job seekers, training organisations and policy makers to understand local labour market dynamics,” Mr Boyton said.

NSC’s new “nowcasting” combines Census insights with other datasets, such as job advertisements, visa holders data and government administrative data to provide current employment estimates.

“The NSC’s new data on Nowcasting Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO) shows that since the last Census in 2016, employment growth has been particularly strong for Aged and Disabled Carers in Logan – Beaudesert, Queensland, up by 126 per cent over the past five years, compared with growth of 61 per cent for the occupation nationally.

“This year’s Census will help us further refine our estimates of what, and where, the economy’s skills needs are,” Mr Boyton said.

Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Greg Christensen. Picture: supplied.

Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Greg Christensen confirmed the ageing population is growing in places like Beaudesert, creating jobs in healthcare and other services. The combined impact is now informing the council’s assessment of overall housing needs across the next 20 years.

“From the previous two rounds of Census data in 2011 and 2016, we saw an increase of almost 2000 people aged 65 and over in the Scenic Rim. This age bracket accounted for 20 per cent of the region’s population,” Mr Christensen said.

“This is certainly translating into an increase in aged care facilities being built in the region, as well as expansions of current facilities.

“Our ageing population also requires additional health services such as disability support, physiotherapists and other specialists, which also is creating jobs in the region.”

Wongaburra Society CEO Atul Kumar Singh said the knock-on effect on its not-for-profit aged care services in Beaudesert – including a residential facility and home care – brings the NSC and Census data to life.

Resident Valerie Stacey, 82, and assistant in nursing Sarah Greeno at Wongaburra Garden Settlement. Picture: Tara Croser.

“When I came here (in 2011), most of the residents were living longer than six years in the facility and they were a lot more mobile,” Mr Kumar Singh said.

“(Now) it is 1.6 years. What it tells us trend-wise … is that most people want to live at home longer and they’re coming to aged care facilities in a very acute, palliative care type of setting.”

The impact for facilities like the Wongaburra Society is the need to upgrade to high-care capacity in an expanded residential facility, while building service provision in the home.

“That’s one thing that is very clear, very evident to us. So we’ve bought some acute equipment to provide palliative care and staffing needs (have grown),” he said.

The next Census is August 10. You can complete your Census here.