Position Paper The Aged Care Workforce

This paper shares NARI’s position on the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety relating to the aged care workforce. As Australia’s longest standing and only independent medical research institute specifically focused on ageing, NARI is responding from a strong position of research, advocacy and education.

The aged care workforce is one of the largest and fastest growing in Australia. This paper argues that we need to prepare and support the workforce to deliver high quality and safe, person-centred care, including through:

• ✓ Improved remuneration and status of aged care workers.
• ✓ Stronger recognition and valuing of diversity in aged care.
• ✓ Aged care workforce planning that is underpinned by evidence.
• ✓ Systematic and structurally resourced efforts to build capacity within the aged care workforce.