The Australian government has announced a $563 million funding boost for the aged care sector, aiming to secure the workforce and enhance protection against coronavirus outbreaks. The package includes nearly $250 million for nursing homes to develop staff and ensure adequate personal protective equipment.
Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck made the announcement on Monday, stating the need for aged care workers to continue coming to work. The funding extends the single site worker program until June 2021 at a cost of $92 million, designed to prevent workers from moving between facilities and reduce outbreak risks.
Health Minister Greg Hunt emphasized that the funding would help Victoria combat the disease, which has resulted in hundreds of nursing home deaths. The government is also extending funding for families caring for loved ones at home during the pandemic.
The Health Services Union has proposed a Medicare levy increase from 2% to 2.65% to inject up to $20 billion into the sector over four years. Union modeling suggests this would create 59,000 jobs and provide residents with an extra 89 minutes of daily care. However, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg rejected the plan, stating the government's focus remains on lower taxes and committing to an additional $1 billion annually in aged care spending.
