More than 70% of aged care workers still haven’t received their $400 bonus, as promised by Prime Minister Scott Morrison back in February, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) revealed today.Results of a national poll of nurses and aged care workers conducted by the ANMF has found:
“Our members have had enough of this complete lack of regard from the Government. It’s simply disgraceful that during these toughest of times, some of our lowest-paid workers have been abandoned. They are sick of being undervalued and ignored by Government, and they’ll be looking for real solutions this election,” Ms Butler said. Comment from ANMF survey participant, Christine, Assistant in Nursing (AIN) from Queensland. Only first payment received:“Every day I question myself – am I doing enough to keep the residents happy? I want to spend time with them, but I can only spend 8-20 minutes per resident a day. That is not enough. We do the morning cares, a shower, and that’s it. There’s not enough time to do everything, the paperwork, the social cares. We don’t have time to even have breaks or sometimes even go to the toilet. I come home sometimes, and I cry to myself because I don’t think I’ve done enough for them. I’ve worked in aged care for almost 6 years, and I don’t think I can do it anymore. I want change, I want more staffing and to increase the quality of aged care. Government needs to step up and do something.”
ANMF media release authorised by Annie Butler, ANMF Federal Secretary. 1/365 Queen St, Melbourne.