Senate community affairs references committee inquiry into the aged care sector workforce - seeking member feedback

Closed: 2 March 2016

The RACGP is preparing a submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee , who are conducting an inquiry into the future of Australia’s aged care sector workforce.

The submission will draw on previous RACGP work on this topic, including a submission to the Select Committee on Health.

The RACGP has sought feedback on the Committee’s terms of reference (below) and the challenges for GPs of working in residential aged care facilities or in aged care more generally.

Inquiry into the future of Australia’s aged care sector workforce

Terms of reference:

1. the current composition of the aged care workforce;
2. future aged care workforce requirements, including the impacts of sector growth, changes in how care is delivered, and increasing competition for workers;
3. the interaction of aged care workforce needs with employment by the broader community services sector, including workforce needs in disability, health and other areas, and increased employment as the National Disability Insurance Scheme rolls out;
4. challenges in attracting and retaining aged care workers;
5. factors impacting aged care workers, including remuneration, working environment, staffing ratios, education and training, skills development and career paths;
6. the role and regulation of registered training organisations, including work placements, and the quality and consistency of qualifications awarded;
7. government policies at the state, territory and Commonwealth level which have a significant impact on the aged care workforce;
8. relevant parallels or strategies in an international context;
9. the role of government in providing a coordinated strategic approach for the sector;
10. challenges of creating a culturally competent and inclusive aged care workforce to cater for the different care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people;
11. the particular aged care workforce challenges in regional towns and remote communities;
12. impact of the Government’s cuts to the Aged Care Workforce Fund; and
13. any other related matters.

Note: The findings from RACGP Rural survey of National Rural Faculty members in February 2016 will be included in the RACGP’s submission to this inquiry.