NAMBUCCA Valley based aged care organisation NVC Group are calling for the aged care sector to be a main focus of the Federal Election.

NVC Group Chairman Janine Reed said workforce pressures in aged care had been building for decades and the COVID-19 pandemic had stretched staff shortages even further.

“Now is the time for residents and aged care providers like NVC Group to show their support for aged care because we want older Australians to get the quality care they deserve,” she said.

“Staff at NVC Group have gone above and beyond to deliver care to residents during the most challenging of circumstances and they deserve better pay and career certainty.

“We are now one year on from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and yet we have not seen its key workforce recommendations implemented.

“NVC Group is just managing to maintain its workforce due to a workforce development plan that promotes a ‘grow your own’ ethos.

“This includes a graduate year Registered Nurse program and attracting youth and job-changers to study at our NV College in Macksville.

“But the aged care industry in general is suffering from severe workforce shortages and now is the time to let our politicians know our industry and its people matter, by signing our industry’s petition.”

The Australian Aged Care Collaboration’s (AACC) election campaign It’s Time to Care About Aged Care calls on all parties and independent candidates running in Cowper and across the nation to commit to three main actions:

1. A Workforce Partnership Supplement for providers to spend immediately on increasing wages, training, minutes of care, 24-hour nursing and COVID-19 prevention and workforce retention costs.

2. A minimum wage increase for aged care workers by funding the Fair Work Commission Work Value Case, and award wage increases from July 2022.

3. And a commitment to a multidisciplinary workforce by putting in place an allied health needs assessment and funding model by July 2024.

Residents wishing to pledge their support for the It’s Time to Care About Aged Care campaign can visit NVC Group’s office in 23 Princess Street, Macksville, and sign a petition or visit the AACC’s website at https://www.careaboutagedcare.org.au/.

The petition is also available at NVC Group’s Coffs Harbour office and at cafes near its aged care facilities in Macksville and Nambucca Heads.