Recently, members at Carol Allen House have raised workload issues with your local HSU organiser, Marion Jennings. As a result, a survey was circulated in order to get a clear picture of concerns in preparation to approach management.

After the data was collected, a meeting was held between Anglicare management, HR, your HSU organiser, and three staff representatives, to present management with staff concerns.

You can access a summary of these concerns here.

Your management was unable to commit to increased staffing in order to reduce the workload at this time, but a meeting with higher management was already scheduled to discuss staffing levels for when Carol Allen House is back at full capacity.

Staff suggestions regarding additional assistance with feeding residents were heard, and changes will be made around this. We await to hear the response from Anglicare as to what additional staff will be allocated once capacity is reached.

Now more than ever, staffing must be the number one issue for providers. We all know what happens when COVID gets into aged care facilities. Going into an outbreak short staffed would be like having one hand tied behind your back. It also leaves services exposed if labour shortfalls have been pointed out, but not acted on.

The participation in this survey is a direct result of union members working together and encouraging non-union members to participate. If you know someone that is not already a member or has recently started, you are strongly encouraged to ask them to join the HSU. We have seen firsthand that members on the ground participating in surveys like this make workplace change possible.

New members can join online here http://www.hsu.asn.au/join. If you have any further issues, you can also contact the Member Services Department on 1300 478 679, or your local organiser at [E-Mail not displayed].

In unity,

Gerard Hayes

Secretary, HSU NSW/ACT/QLD