It affects Australians everywhere. From workers, to residents, to family members. Earlier this year, the HSU launched its Change Aged Care campaign, advocating for the Government to fix aged care once and for all. The campaign was multi-faceted, offering the perspective of different Australians and their experience with the aged care system.

Thus far, hundreds of thousands of people have interacted with the Change Aged Care campaign, including senior Members of Parliament. The support that has been received is heart-warming and gives us hope campaigning in the future. Aged care members: this success belongs to you.

$17.7 billion over 5 years is not the same as $10 billion every year.

The 2021/2022 budget was supposed to be the budget to fix aged care. This was the budget that we had been told would address the Aged Care Royal Commission recommendations, a once in a generation reform.

The Aged Care Royal Commission’s recommendations would cost $10 billion per year. The Federal Government has delivered less than half that amount, instead announcing $17.7 billion over 5 years.

This budget didn’t go far enough, and we didn’t see:

• Support for the HSU Work Value Case in increase wages for the hundreds of thousands of aged care workers who have been undervalued
• Support for secure, permanent employment
• Minimum qualifications and recognition of the skilled aged care workforce
• A sustainable funding model
• Transparency on every dollar spent in aged care