NSWNMA aged care members joined NSW Members of Parliament to launch the report from the Select Committee on the provisions of the Public Health Amendment (Registered Nurses in Nursing Homes) Bill 2020.

The report, which examined the current Bill and heard evidence from workers, unions, providers and organisations, makes seven recommendations and five findings about how the NSW Government can improve aged care.  

Most notably, the committee recommended: 

• The introduction of mandated levels of registered nurses, personal care workers and allied health professionals based on the number and needs of residents.
• That the NSW government legislate for registered nurses, and federal government introduce mandated safe staffing levels for all staff in aged care.

The inquiry was repeatedly told how conditions were getting worse in aged care, with cuts to key staff, food budgets and allied health professionals, including physiotherapists.

The result provides more evidence for the need for urgent change in aged care and highlights the responsibility of the NSW government to take immediate steps to improve our system here in NSW.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association is calling on governments to urgently mandate staff ratios of registered nurses in aged care and act sooner than recommended by the Royal Commission. You can join our campaign here.