GRIFFITH’s retirement establishments are calling for more aged care workers as they battle to keep up with Australia’s growing aged population.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Over the next ten years, the number of residents residing in aged care facilities is projected to increase from 160,000 to more than 250,000.
Forecasts of the impact of the growing aged population reveal potential issues in the provision for aged care in Australia, with demand for aged care workers expected to be the strongest in regional areas.
“The increase in demand has seen our workforce triple in the last 2 years and this will only increase further,” Griffith Retirement Estate manager Lyn Mason.
Since 2011, the increased demand for aged care at Griffith Retirement Estate has seen the extension of 30 new buildings, another 20 are currently under construction and vacant land is yet to be developed into more buildings and apartments.
Analysis conducted by the Western Research Institute for training provider Verto examined the ratio of aged care workers to potential clients by 2031, finding the average across NSW would be one worker for every 18 people.
But in the Murray area, the ratio is 55 people per worker, while in Murrumbidgee, the ratio is 31.
Verto chief executive Ron Maxwell described the findings as a "looming crisis" while Ms Mason said their needs to be more incentives to encourage people to take up a career in aged care.
“Financial incentives would be a great start, aged care studies are currently funded but there needs to be more ongoing incentives by both private and public sectors,” Ms Mason said.
“Most aged care workers are older members of the community with families meaning they have already had experience in caring for someone throughout their lives.
“The industry needs to target younger people but it does take experience for caring to succeed.”
The federal senate is holding an inquiry into the future of Australia's aged care workforce, which needs to increase from 350,000 workers to 1.3 million by 2050, according to a submission from Leading Aged Services Australia which represents providers.
Aged care training is among the qualifications offered under the NSW government's Smart and Skilled program, which provides subsidised courses for eligible students.