Older Australians left out with no funding for Home Care packages, aged care nurses get pay rise

Aged care nurses will get another pay rise, but there’s no extra money for more than 82,000 older Australians desperately needing care. Have your say.

Aged care nurses will get another bump in their pay, but there’s no extra money for more than 82,000 older Australians desperately needing home care, with the number of people on the waiting list soaring by almost 200 per cent since June 2023.

While there was nothing in this Budget for reducing the waiting list, the Albanese Government has backed in its pledge to increase wages for 60,000 aged care nurses, with a $2.6 billion package.

It means a registered nurse will earn $22,000 more a year than before Labor was elected. It is hoped the move will help retain and attract staff to the sector, amid a workforce shortage.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The latest data shows half of all homes (47 per cent) staff are still not spending enough time caring for residents. One in four homes failed to meet their registered nurse care minutes target.

The Budget also includes $300m to be spent over five years on reforming the sector and fulfilling recommendations from the Royal Commission.

Shadow Aged Care Minister Anne Ruston said she was worried about the next generation of older Australians who want to stay independent in their own homes for longer, but are stuck on waiting lists.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Anne Ruston is worried about the next generation of older Australians. Picture: Supplied

“The Government is overseeing a home care wait list that continues to blow out,” Ms Ruston said. “In fact, it has almost tripled in the last 18 months alone, leaving more than 82,000 vulnerable Australians without the critical support they have been assessed as needing.

“It is absolutely unacceptable that the Albanese Government is overseeing a skyrocketing wait list for home care.”

The scheme, which is set up to help people stay in their own homes as they age, is seeing wait times of between 12 to 15 months for those with the highest needs.

The latest Government data released in February revealed older Australians are waiting longer for home care packages under Labor.

In total there were 82,960 older Australians on the priority waiting list who were waiting for their approved home care package as of December 31, almost a 200 per cent increase (189 per cent) since June 2023.

More than 77 per cent of those are waiting to get on the program.

The latest Government data released in February revealed older Australians are waiting longer for home care packages under Labor. Picture: iStock

National Seniors Australia Chief Executive Officer Chris Grice said “additional home care packages are needed to reduce the wait times to three months as soon as possible.”

Home Care Packages will be replaced by the new Support at Home program, set to start on July 1, and will have eight classifications for ongoing services, replacing the four current levels. The highest package will provide $78,000 a year to help keep older people in their homes.

Ageing Australia said the next 12 months will be critical for older Australians, with major reforms underway – including the introduction of the new Aged Care Act, the Support at Home program, and substantial regulatory changes – as well as concerns over the workforce shortages.

“Relieving the workforce crisis, transition to the new Support at Home Program and time to implement reforms properly are our absolute top priorities,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.

Originally published as Older Australians left out with no funding for Home Care packages, aged care nurses get pay rise