Steve Georganas has become the latest MP to join the ANMF’s Fix Aged Care campaign, saying the system needs to be overhauled.
Mr Georganas, the Federal Member for Adelaide met with ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM and Director, Operations and Strategy, Rob Bonner, this week and signed the pledge to support the four key actions of the campaign.
The four key reforms the ANMF is asking for are to support:
- RN 24/7 – at least one registered nurse on site at all times
- Minimum mandated care hours and the right skills mix
- Greater transparency – funding tied to care
- Improved wages and conditions
Mr Georganas said aged care was a key issue for the elderly Greek Australian community in the lead up to the Federal election. He said the Government’s current lack of action on aged care, and the impact it’s had on aged care workers and the dignity of older Australians was “a national disgrace”.
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Asked about the scale of neglect uncovered by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Mr Georganas said “it was shocking, worse than we thought’’.
“It shows that the system is not working and it needs an absolute overhaul to ensure our older Australians are getting the care they deserve.
“All of us from the day we are born are getting older, so we are all going to be there one day (in need of aged care help). And we want to have the confidence that people will be looked after when they need those facilities, when they need those services.
“But also, we are going to be judged as a nation in generations to come on the way that we treated the older members of our community.’’
Ms Dabars said the support of politicians is “absolutely crucial” to getting the ANMF campaign heard and acted upon.
“We ultimately need those decision makers to drive the change that we see as absolutely essential for the health and welfare of our community.’’
