In 2024 our union helped secure mandatory care minutes for aged care residents, now set at 215 minutes daily. This change, stemming from Royal Commission recommendations, aims to provide adequate staffing levels, with our union advocating to ensure it leads to genuine improvements for residents and workers alike.
In response to years of underfunding and systemic neglect revealed by the Royal Commission into Aged Care, our union played a vital role in advocating for mandatory minimum care minutes for aged care residents. As of October 2024, aged care providers are now required to provide an average of 215 minutes of care per resident per day, including 44 minutes delivered by a registered nurse. This landmark policy aims to ensure that residents receive adequate, personalised care, directly addressing issues of chronic understaffing and inadequate support. For our members, these mandated care minutes are essential in managing workloads and providing meaningful, dignified care. While there are still implementation challenges, we continue to collaborate with the government to ensure that mandatory care time translates into real improvements in care standards, reducing the strain on workers and enhancing residents’ quality of life.