No aged care strategy set out by Government
Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck says the Government does not have a firm strategy to deal with surge workforce in aged care homes.
Victorian homes faced swathes of staff being forced to self-isolate after being declared close contacts, during outbreaks across parts of the state.
That caught the Federal Government short, with its worst case modelling not predicting such significant staff shortages.
"We did not anticipate that," Senator Colbeck told the Senate's COVID-19 committee today.
In an exchange with Labor senator Katy Gallagher, the Minister said there was "not a document" that set out the strategy to ensure surge capacity was available for aged care homes.
Senator Gallagher: "In terms of your workforce strategy, your surge strategy, I think that's what you were announcing on the 12th of April, is that document available to the committee?
Senator Colbeck: "That information is reflected in the advice that has been forwarded to the sector.
Senator Gallagher: "What does that mean? There isn't a strategy or the letters that have gone to the sector?
Senator Colbeck: "And also the contracts that have gone into place to source workforce and of course we've continued to expand that capacity as the scale of the pandemic demanded it.
Senator Gallagher: "Is there a workforce surge strategy for aged care?
Senator Colbeck: "There's not a document."
Senator Colbeck said all those issues had been set out by the national strategy for COVID-19.
(reporting by the ABC's Jordan Hayne)
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA4LTIxL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWF1c3RyYWxpYS1saXZlLW5ld3MtdmljdG9yaWEtbmF0aW9uYWwtY2FiaW5ldC8xMjU4MDIxNtIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjU4MDIxNg?oc=5
2020-08-21 02:15:00Z
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