Long hours, poor pay and chronic understaffing are commonplace in aged care.

Beginning in late April, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) considered landmark applications by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) and Health Services Union (HSU), supported by the United Workers Union (UWU), for a 25% wage increase for aged care workers. The unions’ claim is that the work of aged care workers has never been properly valued and is in fact significantly undervalued.

Evidence presented for the Aged Care Work Value case by the ANMF, HSU and UWU comprised more than 100 witness statements, the majority of whom gave evidence during the two-week virtual hearing.

The ANMF’s claim relied on members working as AINs, PCWs, ENs, RNs, and Nurse Practitioners to describe the work they do on a daily basis and major challenges. As a collective, they painted aged care as an occupation that is mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually demanding. Most workers revealed clocking off shifts feeling exhausted.

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