An Enrolled Nurse (EN) made redundant by aged care provider Southern Cross Care Tasmania has publicly questioned the ‘Compassion, Integrity and Respect’ of their former employer for sacking highly-trained ENs and replacing them with lower-paid personal care workers (PCW) in nursing homes, as part of a new model of care. 

The EN’s emotional letter was provided to the Aged Care Ministers and federal MPs when a delegation of current and former Southern Cross Care Tasmania ENs travelled to Parliament House. 

In the letter, the former Southern Cross Care EN implored the federal government to act swiftly to prevent a precedence being set and run the risk of losing 1000s of talented ENs from our aged care system. 

“The Royal Commission was about providing the best person-centred care for residents and in doing so, facilities would retain a highly qualified skilled staff mix to provide that care. 

“It may be too late for myself and colleagues at Southern Cross Care to retain the roles we love and are passionate about, providing care to residents we call “family”, however it is not too late for the government to ensure that what Southern Cross Care is proposing does not set a precedence for other aged care facilities around the country.  

“It is vital therefore that legislation of a minimum mandated skill mix of Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses and care workers is implemented to stop any future greedy aged care providers from taking the same course of action as Southern Cross Care currently proposes,” the EN wrote in the letter presented to the politicians. 

The EN also raised concerns that RNs will be placed under ‘increased pressures and workloads’ under the Southern Cross Care Tasmania’s so-called ‘Household Model of Care’ and warned that ultimately, it will be residents that are affected most. 

Reports have also emerged from other states of ENs made redundant and substituted for extended care workers. Some providers in South Australia have been substituting ENs with a combination of RNs and Personal Care Workers (PCWs), whilst in NSW some ENs are reportedly being offered personal care workers contracts.  

Following the meeting, the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler and Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells both expressed their serious concern in a media statement, stating they were “highly concerned that Southern Cross Care are making Enrolled Nurses redundant because of incorrect claims these roles are no longer funded by the government”. 

“At a time when there has been a significant increase in federal funding for care and when there are acute workforce shortages, we are disappointed that Southern Cross is proposing to terminate the employment of longstanding, experienced and dedicated nursing staff,’ the Ministers said in a statement issued. 

“It is unacceptable that after the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety that a small minority of providers are looking to lower the standard of care available to residents in aged care facilities.” 

ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler thanked the Albanese Government for listening to nurses’ concerns and for taking urgent intervention to stop aged care providers from sacking highly trained ENs and replacing them with lower-paid PCWs in nursing homes.  

 “The ANMF and our members across Australia are pleased the government has listened to our concerns. The government understands the vital role that highly-trained ENs play in providing quality, safe care to vulnerable, elderly Australians living in nursing homes, as recommended by the Royal Commission. 

“The ANMF will now work with the government to ensure that it mandates specified minimum RN/EN/PCW care minutes, to protect the jobs of our ENs in aged care and, most importantly, strengthen the aged care workforce to guarantee quality care delivery. 

The government has now written to Southern Cross Care urging it to ‘reconsider its decision’ and has tasked the Department of Health and Aged care to ‘provide a response to the government that will prevent this from happening.