Union slams Council decision

By Lachlan Ellis

An ‘in-principle decision’ to cease delivering aged care has been condemned by the union representing aged care workers, but Moorabool Shire Council says Federal Government changes have forced the move.

On Thursday 2 December, Council issued a media release which stated the decision to “potentially cease delivering aged care and disability services” was due to “inherent service costs, financial constraints, competition policy and other structural challenges”.

These challenges, Council said, came from a change in Federal Government policy, following the Royal Commission into Aged Care.

But on Monday 6 December, the Australian Services Union (ASU) responded with its own media release criticising the decision, arguing the result would be lower wages and conditions for carers, and a lower quality of care for the elderly.

“The quality of services aged residents receive from council delivered in-home aged care is higher than when non-government providers deliver services,” ASU Secretary Lisa Darmanin said.

“When councils stop delivering these services, carers are pushed into insecure work with lower wages and conditions.

“Our union has seen carers that are much worse off when councils exit in-home aged care service delivery, their employment conditions fall, and the time they have to really care for vulnerable people is reduced.”