Former Premier calls for aged care staffing investment

HammondCare CEO, Mike Baird with Hannah Barratt, Julie Swarbrick and Emmerson Stott at the Port Macquarie office.

Former NSW Premier, Mike Baird says Australia needs to adopt widespread change and invest in staff in a necessary overhaul of the aged care sector.

Mr Baird, who was the 44th Premier of NSW from 2014-2017, joined not-for-profit health and aged care provider, HammondCare, in September as CEO and spoke as he visited HammondCare’s services in the Port Macquarie region yesterday.

“Five years ago my mum (Judy) was in a position where it was very difficult to stay at home and we had to hand her across to a (full-time care) nursing home in Sydney,” Mr Baird said.

“I remember very clearly looking at the care workers receiving her and I was gripped by their hands.

“My hope was that they would care for my mum in a way that I would, obviously with the expertise and experience that I didn’t have.”

Mr Baird said the industry was facing challenges in the wake of findings from the two-year Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety established in 2018. 

“Aged care has got its challenges and that has played out in the Royal Commission. We are seeing an increasing demand in the community for the best possible level of care,” he said.

“The structural challenges of funding, the need for more people and training of them, has provided a difficult position. But I think this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity because everyone’s eyes are on the aged care sector and the government is keen to take action.

“We want to create a sustainable aged care sector with good quality care, providers being increasingly transparent and shining the light on the best practices of care.”

The Royal Commission inquiry made its final submissions in October 2020 and produced 124 recommendations. 

Recommendations include adding laws based on human rights principles for the elderly, mandated staffing ratios, an independent aged care commission and further enforcement powers for the aged care regulator.

“For all of us there is a role and the question of how much do we value our elderly? How much do we want them to receive the best possible care?” Mr Baird said.

“In days gone past I don’t think it was at the level it should be. I think this has reminded us of the importance of the elderly and getting them the best quality care we can.

“I think the staff challenge is the biggest issue in the future. Demand is coming with an aging population and we will need more staff. It must be an attractive employment position and a great career to be part of.

“We should be reminding the next generation or people in industries challenged by COVID, that this is a long term career with purpose. Each day there is a chance to impact someone’s quality of life for the better and go home being proud of each day.”

This article first appeared (20/11) in Port News.