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Australian Government Promises to Fund Pay Rise for Aged Care Workers

on Wednesday, August 10, 2022

In a submission to the Fair Work Commission (FWC), the Federal Government has announced that they will foot the bill for a potential pay rise for aged care staff. Unions are pushing for a 25 percent wage increase for more than 200,000 residential and home care workers.

The Government has said that the existing award rates for aged care workers do not reflect the skills and dedication of staff.

Tony Burke, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, said the pandemic had intensified the pressures on the aged care industry.

“Right now, there is no doubt their work is undervalued. We need to change that,” he said.

“Our government is prioritising these workers as we fight to get wages moving again.”

Increasing wages for aged care workers was a key recommendation from last years’ Royal Commission into Aged Care.

An increase in wages will also help to address a worsening shortage of aged care workers.

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said, “We need more staff in aged care and a pay rise is the start of ensuing workers are rewarded for the crucial roles they play.”

“One of the main causes of the gender pay gap is low pay and poor conditions in care sectors like aged care, where they majority of workers are women.”

“Increasing wages in aged care is essential to ensuring that men and women are paid equally.”

If the case is successful, the minimum wage of a qualified personal carer could increase from $23.09 to $28.86 an hour. A level 1 aged care worked could see their weekly pay increase almost $200 a week.

The FWC is due to hear from the government and unions later this month.

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