SATURDAY workforce issue: 15% pay rise and cost of living pressures are drawing workers to aged care

Lutheran Services, which provides home care services and operates 11 aged care homes in rural, remote, and metropolitan Queensland, is “very, very close” to achieving the incoming 24/7 RN and care minute requirements, according to Chief Executive Officer Nick Ryan. The faith-based provider has developed “agile” and “innovative” approaches to attracting new staff, and a recent recruitment drive for personal care workers received 300 applications.

“That’s double the usual [number of applicants],” Nick said.

He attributes the increase in part to the 15% pay rise, coming in from 1 July 2023. However, he believes “cost of living pressures” are also driving workers towards “stable, ongoing” jobs in aged care. Read more in this week’s special Workforce edition of SATURDAY, our premium digital magazine. You can subscribe HERE.