Response to the Federal Budget 2022-23

AGED CARE PROVIDERS BUDGET 2022 RESPONSE

There is nothing in this budget to improve aged care wages. It will leave our dedicated workers on the edge of poverty and many older Australians without the services they need.

The budget confirms the inadequacy of the government's previous response to the Royal Commission. There is so much more work to be done.

The Royal Commission's workforce recommendations are the key area of unfinished business and the government has left it that way.

There are some modest new initiatives that we will evaluate and analyse in the coming days.

Since the start of the pandemic, aged care workers have gone above and beyond. They should be getting the pay they deserve and career certainty. The Royal Commission recognised this. It's well overtime for the government to fix this once and for all.

About the Australian Aged Care Collaboration

The AACC is a group of six aged care peak bodies: Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA), Anglicare Australia, Baptist Care Australia, Catholic Health Australia, Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) and UnitingCare Australia. Together, the AACC represents more than 1,000 organisations who deliver 70 per cent of aged care services to 1.3 million Australians, either in their own homes or in communal residential settings.

The following representatives of the AACC are available for interview:

Sean Rooney CEO Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) - Media contact: Kate Hannon 0499 106 957

Paul Sadler CEO Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) - Media contact: Zerene Catacutan 0422 815 248