ACSA Level One, 36 Albert Road, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205 Tel: (03) 9686 3460
Media Release
August 28, 2009
Award modernisation another hurdle for aged care
Award modernisation is likely to have a significant negative impact on the aged care industry, Aged and
Community Services Australia CEO Greg Mundy said today.
Mr Mundy said some aged care providers, particularly smaller facilities and rural and remote services,
were already struggling to survive under current funding arrangements.
“If the awards impacting on aged care currently being considered by the Commission are adopted, they
will inflict inflexible and prescriptive conditions on the delivery of care and services,” he said.
“The Federal Government has stressed that no one should be worse off under the new awards which are
meant to be cost neutral.
“Implementation of the awards will in all likelihood have a significant cost impact for a range of residential
and community care providers, who operate on tight margins and have little capacity to absorb additional
expense.
“Adequate resourcing is critical as we face dramatic increases in the number older Australians who will
need care.
“There has been increasing recognition that older Australians want the flexibility to choose the type of
care they need, whether it is in residential services or in their homes with community care.
“The same level of flexibility must be afforded service providers and aged care workers if the industry is to
survive and deliver optimum care to the people who need it most, when and where they need it.
“At the very least the maximum transition period of five years will be required for implementation of the
new awards.
“The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission Report has addressed a broad range of issues
affecting the delivery of aged care services. Many of the terms and conditions in the new awards have
the potential to inhibit these much needed reforms and thereby further delay a visionary approach to aged
care.”
ACSA represents more than 1,100 church, charitable and community based organisations providing
accommodation and care services to more than 700,000 older Australians, people with a disability and
their carers.
Media contact: Chris Hornsey 0419 513 432
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