Aged care workers have rejected central recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission, saying they do not go far enough or quickly enough to provide the care and safety older Australians need.

In a snap survey conducted by United Workers Union on Tuesday and Wednesday, 84 per cent of aged care workers said they did not think the recommendations do enough to improve the quality of care for older Australians.

And 84 per cent of aged care workers said they were not confident the Morrison Government would act to significantly improve the quality of care for older Australians.

The poll of more than 600 aged care workers also found:

– 86 per cent of aged care workers rejected the proposed increase of 20 minutes of care time as too low.
– 78 per cent of aged care workers do not think they will get a pay rise as a result of the Royal Commission recommendations.
– 88 per cent of aged care workers did not think the aged care sector would change in the short term to retain and attract talented aged care workers.

“These findings reflect the sad reality of a Royal Commission that did not make a bold recommendation about the care time needed to give older Australians the dignity and respect they deserve,” United Workers Union aged care director Carolyn Smith said today.

“Aged care workers know the score – a ‘gradual change’ report has been handed to a do-nothing government, and as a result their high expectations from the Royal Commission have been dashed.

“Without a clear signpost of the pay rises needed in the sector, or even a clear recommendation about how to fund quality care for older Australians, aged care workers feel let down and overlooked.”

Aged care workers made the following remarks in the survey:

“All talk. The extra funds will go straight into the providers’ pockets. Little if any gain for us.”

“I hope that they will follow through with the changes but I won’t be holding my breath.”

“It’s all been said beforehand, get real, try doing the job.”

“It sounds like the changes are broad and at this early stage unclear. As an EN who has worked in aged care for 15 years I haven’t seen any real improvements. Most training is online which is not as good as face to face.”

“I think all the extra money will go into administration and audits, nothing towards the actual care of residents or workers.”

“We didn’t need a Royal Commission to determine Aged care is underfunded. The funds need to be monitored where they will be spent.”