Aged care shifts unfilled over Christmas
Russell Egan, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Superior Care Group, has told DCM that any workers who call in sick over Christmas are unlikely to be replaced – there simply will not be enough staff. The Christmas roster is already being...
Russell Egan, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Superior Care Group, has told DCM that any workers who call in sick over Christmas are unlikely to be replaced – there simply will not be enough staff. The Christmas roster is already being prepared, but even with that level of forward planning, Superior’s homes are likely to be short staffed over Christmas. This will not be unusual in aged care homes this year. In any given fortnight, it’s not unusual for 40 shifts at Superior to go unfilled. Finding alternatives – working overtime, casuals, or using agency staff – adds to the cost of its business.
“Working and delivering services in the aged care sector is unlike any other sector,” says Russell. Providers are strictly regulated in terms of funding and pricing.
The Fair Work Commission’s 15% pay rise for direct care workers does not go far enough, Russell says. Read the full story in this week’s issue of SATURDAY – subscribe here.
