Major workforce changes needed by 2023, experts warn

Only 3.8 per cent of Australian residential aged care homes are on track to meet the government’s new staffing standards set for 2023, a new study has found. 

As part of the federal response to the royal commission, providers must ensure that residents receive at least 200 minutes of care per day, with 40 minutes of care given by a registered nurse.

A registered nurse will also be required to be present on at least two daily shifts.

By comparing existing levels of staff across the country, researchers from the University of Technology Sydney found only 10 per cent of aged care homes will be able to meet the care time requirements. 

Lead author Dr Nicole Sutton said that urgent workforce changes will be needed within the next two years.

“It’s critical,” she told Aged Care Insite.

“Aged care is a service based industry, the bricks and mortar are important, but at the end of the day it’s people providing care to residents.

“Otherwise, all we will see is a repeat of the instances we saw during the royal commission.”

Dr Sutton joined Aged Care Insite to speak about historical staffing levels in Australia, the new standards, and the greatest obstacles facing providers leading up to 2023.

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