$10 billion per year. That is the amount of funding it would take for the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission. Our own modelling suggests that anything less than an extra $7 billion per year is a failure.

The amount that the Government put towards aged care for a five year period? Just $17.7 billion. Aged care is an Australian issue. 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. Aged care workers have been at the forefront of activism to change the aged care sector. We have been underpaid and overworked for far too long. On 10 May, in anticipation of the 2021-2022 Federal Budget, HSU aged care members took the fight for a fairer aged care system to Australian Parliament House.

Joined by many important political figures, including the Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese, Shadow Minister for Aged Care Claire O’Neill, ACTU President Michele O’Neil and Secretary of Unions NSW Mark Morey, HSU members made one hell of a mark. The Change Aged Care Rally was a call to action. A message to the Government that aged care workers would not settle. Our skilled work deserves better wages and conditions, the residents that we love and care for deserve better treatment, and their families deserve the peace of mind of knowing their loved ones are safe.

In addition, the HSU conducted an automated call campaign amongst aged care members to connect them to the Prime Minister’s office. Nearly 700 calls from members were patched through to Scott Morrison’s office, relaying one simple message: CHANGE AGED CARE. In the lead up to the Federal budget, the Government labelled it as the ‘Aged Care Budget’. Following the findings of the Royal Commission detailing the complete and utter neglect of the aged care system on behalf of the Government, let’s take a look are what actually was delivered:

The Pros

• The introduction of the Aged Care Act to implement a worker code

• The introduction of the Aged Care Act to implement a worker code of conduct. This will bring in a star rating system for all of residential aged care.

• This rating will be determined bya range of criteria, including care minutes, food and nutrition quality, cleaning, lined services, etc. This is a solid step towards transparency.

• By 2023 there will be mandated minimum care minutes – 200 minutes per resident per day. 40 minutes a day must be from a Registered Nurse. However, on a global basis, this standard is quite low – lower than in the United States.

• Immediate changes in funding for residents – an extra $10 per resident per day will be provided for a range of services, however there are no transparency requirements for this funding. We all know there is a risk that this funding will be used to boost profits for aged care providers.

• Increased number of aged care home packages – although still not meeting demand.

• Increased number of aged care home packages – although still not meeting demand.• An additional $230 million for specialised dementia carers. This includes 3200 new residential dementia care leaders. The HSU Work Value Case put an emphasis on the need for increased dementia services.

The Cons

• NO funding set aside for increased care worker wages.

• NO funding set aside for increased care worker wages.

• NO funding for increased job security in the sector.• NO funding for increase qualifications and training for care workers.

• An unsustainable funding model. What will happen after the 5 years of funding? The $17.7 billion is only for this period of time.

• The $3,700 retention bonus is exclusively for registered nurses, meaning that the hard working aged care workers get nothing.

• NO funding set aside for increased care worker wages.

• NO funding set aside for increased care worker wages.

• NO funding for increased job security in the sector.

• NO funding for increase qualifications and training for care workers.

• An unsustainable funding model. What will happen after the 5 years of funding? The $17.7 billion is only for this period of time.

• The $3,700 retention bonus is exclusively for registered nurses, meaning that the hard working aged care workers get nothing.