Nursing career in aged care worth ‘more than pay’

Aged care can offer more diverse responsibilities, leadership opportunities, and stronger long-term relationships than nursing in hospitals, a Sydney-based aged care provider chief has said.

The sector is in dire need of additional staff to meet the 24/7 nursing mandate and 200 care minutes per resident per day.

The recent budget announced that the sector would receive $32.7bn in federal funding, including $11.3bn over four years to provide a 15 per cent pay rise for aged care workers from July 2023.

While welcoming the pay boost, Cranbrook Care chief Lee Carissa said that, for many, working in aged care is about the 'genuine joy of caring for older people.'

"The most rewarding part of aged care is the long-term relationships with residents and their families," Ms Carissa told Aged Care Insite.

"Undoubtedly, the pay rise will help attract staff, but other factors, such as training and development opportunities, contribute to improving the workforce situation.

"Once you're in aged care, you become very passionate about it."

Ms Carissa, a registered nurse, started her 30-year career as a personal care assistant.

She now leads Sydney-based Cranbrook Care with five residential care facilities, including two in Neutral Bay, which house over 435 older Australians and two retirement villages.

"I loved aged care from a very young age," Ms Carissa said.

"I have had the privilege of witnessing first-hand the incredible impact compassionate nursing has on residents in care.

"It brings me so much joy and pleasure."

Despite the fulfilling nature of aged care work, Ms Carissa noted the sector still suffers from a poor image, highlighted by the Royal Commission's report in 2021.

She said the government should focus on improving career opportunities and work environments to benefit nurses and aged care workers.

Earlier this month, the immigration department announced a new, simplified temporary visa for providers to sponsor overseas direct care workers.

People on the aged care labour agreement can apply for fast-track approval to permanent residency and access to union support.

The labour agreement would also remove the work cap of 48 hours per fortnight for international students working in aged care.

Ms Carissa said while the agreement was a 'positive step,' the government could make small changes to aged care policies that would have a significant impact.

For example, she said it could allow salary-sacrificing benefits to everyone in aged care, not just those in the not-for-profit sector.

Not-for-profit aged care providers can offer staff a salary sacrifice benefit, but for-profit providers are not eligible. 

"Any aged care worker, not just nurses, could benefit from this salary-sacrificing benefit, which is currently only available to nurses," Ms Carissa said.

"It's no cost to the government, but it does cost the staff member their payable tax."

She also said the sector would benefit from more incentives for people to take up nursing as a career through universities.

Major sector bodies, such as the Aged and Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA), have started special programs to encourage more graduate nurses to work in aged care.

In 2022, over 75 nurses participated in the Transition to Nursing Program, with ten registered nurses joining the program for six months in other areas.

Another program, the Transition to Practise, spearheaded by the UniSC and Lutheran Services, was expanded to 28 places across three facilities on the back of the pilot's success.

"It's unusual for a younger person to apply for a role in aged care straight out of university," Ms Carissa said.

"New graduate nurses tend to gravitate towards areas that seem exciting and glamorous, like what they see on TV shows.

"But I think it's something we need to work hard on as an industry to encourage."

She highlighted that nursing in aged care offers benefits, such as the diversity of daily responsibilities, leadership opportunities, and the longevity of the nurse-patient relationship.

"Nursing in aged care allows for stronger bonds and long-term positive impact compared to fleeting interactions with patients in hospital settings," Ms Carissa said.

"Aged care nurses also gain valuable knowledge across multiple clinical areas, unlike hospital nurses who may specialise in one area.

"Overall, nursing in aged care is about much more than money."

Do you have an idea for a story?
Email [email protected]