Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that aged care workers will receive a first of two payments beginning this month amid increasing pressure on workers from the effects of COVID-19.
Over 200,000 workers in aged care and government subsidised home care will receive two payments of up to $400 each with one bonus this month and the other in May. Mr Morrison said at the National Press Club conference that “None of our health outcomes would be possible without the hard work, long hours and dedicated care offered by our frontline health and aged care workforce”.
Workers who provide cleaning and food services will also be eligible for the payments but the amount they’re paid will depend on the hours that they work. The announcement has been welcomed by United Workers Union Aged Care Director Carolyn Smith who said in a statement that, “The union is pleased that the bonus has been extended to include all aged care workers, including catering and cleaning staff, as well as care workers” however she quickly pointed out that she wasn’t sure “these bonuses will fix the systemic issues in the industry”.
Others have also been quick to point out that the $800 bonus is not enough for workers in an industry that in the middle of a crisis. Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said that the bonus was “a slap in the face” to aged care workers.
“I’m worried about adequate food and staff to provide healthy meals to residents, I’m worried about adequate staff,” she said in a press conference.
The announcement has caused a discussion among people with the Australian Nursing Midwifery Federation saying “Aged care staff are exhausted and burnt out, with many working for days around the clock. We need an ongoing Covid-19 payment to be paid on each shift to recognize and incentivise aged care workers”. While Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told ABC radio that “Australians know that [we’re] working hard every day to deliver the best health and economic outcome”.
