“Cruel and financially reckless”– another Vic council to axe in-home care services leaving 300 workers in the lurch

The City of Greater Geelong Council has blindsided locals with the sudden announcement that it will be voting to cease its in-home care services, potentially leaving older people and their carers in limbo.

Should the Council vote to end its services, it will mean the approximately 300 aged care workers that service over 3000 clients will be lose thier jobs, resulting in around $10 million in redundancy payments.

The Australian Services Union (ASU) has slammed the move, calling it “both cruel and financially reckless.”

“Everyone knows the council-run home care service is the best available in our community. Our parents and grandparents rely on these workers to keep them healthy, safe and out of aged care,” ASU Victorian and Tasmanian branch secretary Tash Wark said.

“Most people want to live independently as long as possible and that’s what this service allows.

“Cutting the service will create safety risks for people who try to keep living at home without the
support they need, and will lead to a rush on aged care homes that are already under huge strain.”

Ms Wark accused the Council of planning the job cuts for over a year, calling the decision "lazy".

"Councillors have failed to manage the contract with Commonwealth and are exiting because it’s
easier than running the service,” she said.

In the midst of a hotly contested Federal election campaign Labor MP for Corangamite Libby Coker has supported the ASU's stance, labelling the Council as “callous” and “turning its back” on older residents, while Corio MP Richard Marles said it was “really concerning news,” the Geelong Advertiser reports.

Furthermore, the region’s four state Labor MPs – Christine Couzens, Ella George, Alison Marchant and Gayle Tierney – co-signed a letter to highlight their “deep concern”.

“We believe the proposed ceasing of aged care support would be a complete abrogation of Geelong council’s responsibility to provide for the health, welfare and safety of elderly and vulnerable ratepayers,” it said.

“This proposal would see up to 300 job losses of hard working, trusted and committed staff … at a time of cost-of-living stress, this would be devastating to many families in Geelong.”

Geelong Council is able to provide care services to its community by way of federal government funding, delivered through the Home Support Program, however, this is certainly not the first time a Victorian council has done this.

Councils have been exiting the home aged care services over the past few years due to significant changes in the way federal funding is allocated, shifting the responsibility of care to "specialised providers."

In February last year, the City of Port Phillip voted to end its in-home aged care services, deciding to instead outsource the jobs to privately owned providers. This followed a mass exodus of over 20 regional councils in 2022 and 2023.

City of Greater Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie has issued a statement reassuring residents that a range of services for older people will still be provided.

"Our aim is to ensure our community is provided the best possible service to its ageing population, and this has always been the core priority of our community care service," she said.

"When considering these reforms, we had to consider very carefully what would be best for our clients.

"Aged Care is complex, and every client has their own bespoke needs, so we wanted to really take the time to get this right.

"We feel that specialised aged care providers who make this their core business will provide the best standard of care going into the future.

"We are committed to guiding our staff and clients through any transition, but cannot pre-empt how Council will respond to our recommendation."

A meeting will be held next Thursday where councillors will vote on the matter, which will be closed to the public.