Albanese stands by aged care reforms as more providers signal closure

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unapologetically backed his Government’s “ambitious” aged care targets despite bigger providers calling for extended exemptions and many facilities closing due to looming new mandatory compliance requirements.

Last week, Hello Leaders reported that all three of the Wesley Mission Sydney aged care facilities have been scheduled for closure at the end of May, as 24/7 nursing requirements take effect on July 1.

On the other side of the country, Perth aged care provider, Brightwater, also announced it will close three of its 12 residential facilities in the next year as it struggles to meet the requirements due to a lack of staff.

At the end of last month, the Federal Government confirmed it would fail to meet the ambitious July 1 nursing deadline as one in 20 facilities would not have the staff.

About 5% of facilities have been granted a 12-month exemption from the requirement for homes with under 30 beds in rural and remote settings but bigger providers are also struggling and some want to see the exemption requirements extended to include these organisations. 

Tom Symondson, Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is also pushing for those exemptions to be extended.

“We’ve got much larger providers, particularly in rural and regional areas, that are struggling to meet that 24/7 nursing requirement so we need to make sure they’re not being punished for something that everybody can see they cannot meet,” he told ABC Radio. 

But this morning, Mr Albanese defended his Government’s policy on another ABC Radio segment, saying that close to 90% of residential facilities would meet the 24/7 nursing requirements.

“The fact that 90% have met the (staffing) requirements already shows that we make no apologies for being ambitious in this area,” he said.

“But we’re also being very practical about the way that these issues are dealt with.

“Workforce is a challenge in aged care and that’s why the Government has committed to funding the 15% increase in the award wage for workers.”