Voice of the Peninsula 10 FEBRUARY 2022
ISSUE 046
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
Aged care in crisis
News
Representatives and leaders of local community groups and organisations met to discuss youth community safety on February 2 at Jasmine Greens in the Peninsula Recreation Precinct. See page 5
Out & About
Great Southern Nights is headed for the Peninsula again with two dates confirmed for the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus this autumn, along with a headlining gig for one local artist. See page 13
Business The aged care forum at Ocean Beach SLSC
“We’re crying out for staff”, “we are desperate”, “it’s a nightmare” – were some of the pleas from local aged care providers and representatives when parts of the sector met for a forum on Friday, February 4. Over 70 local aged care representatives, carers, staff and family members attended the discussion which was chaired by Assistant Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, Ged Kearney, and Labor Candidate for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid at Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Issues were raised about staff wages, the quality of care, elder abuse, staff retention, and regulatory reform. A CEO of an aged care
provider in West Gosford said the organisation was “doing it tough, especially financially. “It’s just not sustainable,” they said. After giving up work to help care for his father who has dementia, a local carer said there was no real support for carers in the community. “People need to be paid correctly so they can afford to feed their families,” he said. “I looked after my dad for three years at my house [because] there were no places on the Central Coast available.” Another local aged care CEO (of Peninsula Villages), Colin Osborne, shared a moving address about his experiences in the sector and with NDIS funding. A representative from Meals
on Wheels spoke about the impacts of privatisation on the sector, with the organisation helping provide food to local providers and elderly people who are living at home. “We have a duty of care to all of our clients and privatisation will minimise community contact that people and residents will have,” they said. Changes in the demographic of residential aged care was discussed with residents now more likely to be in need of high-care and more end-of-life care, with people staying at home for longer. The need for training and regulations to be reformed to match this change was widely agreed upon by forum participants. A number of people spoke about the delay between
assessment and provision of care, with one participant stating, “It takes at least three to four weeks for an aged care referral… some of them die before they get that care package.” Kearney said it was “outrageous the sheer contempt the Morrison Government had shown to the aged care crisis. “The complete lack of regard, respect and interest this Government has taken in the sector over the last nine years that they’ve been in, is reflected in the anger heard today,” Kearney said. “The COVID-19 outbreak has brought the sector to its knees with workers being furloughed, residents dying … it’s highlighted the big cracks that have been in the
system for so long. “Workforce is crucial: we need more carers, more registered nurses in the sector, we need to make sure there is a registered nurse on every shift, we need to make sure the funding given to the sector is spent on care and that there is transparency and accountability in that.” Business Development Manager at ET Australia, Dana Mahia, said the employment training and recruitment organisation had heard from local providers desperately asking for staff. “The industry is just not attracting people at the moment,” Mahia said. Continued page 4
The Pearl Beach Progress Association (PBPA) has submitted a development application to Council for approval to rebuild the Pearl Beach War Memorial. See page 21
Sport
If you were nearby a beach on Saturday, January 29, you may have been rewarded with the sight of outrigger canoes battling the waves from Patonga to Terrigal. See page 31
Puzzles page 18
It all starts with spirit spiritsuper.com.au Advice on Spirit Super is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) and issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718), the trustee of Spirit Super (ABN 74 559 365 913). Read the PDS at spiritsuper.com.au before making a decision.
coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net