Speaking in parliament on March 21, Mr Birrell was responding to comments by Aged Care Minister Anika Wells regarding Labor’s election promise to have registered nurses on site 24/7 at residential facilities from July 1.
Ms Wells noted that current staff shortages in the sector meant the target looked doubtful, with Mr Birrell saying, “finally there is some recognition that you can’t magic highly qualified nurses into existence”.
“In my electorate, small low-care nursing homes are being rendered unviable, elderly residents are not being able to live out their days in their own community,” he said.
“Large providers are dozens of registered nurses short of meeting the reform targets. Care facilities are worried about how their inability to recruit nurses will impact their star rating.
“And people in my electorate on home care packages are unable to get the help they need because of a lack of providers and staff.”
Mr Birrell proposed a different set of rules for certain small regional aged care centres be introduced after hearing that many would be unable to meet these new quotas.
In addition to his comments on aged care, Mr Birrell also urged the government to take a closer look at the proposed Goulburn Valley Clinical Health School.
The project aims to recruit more registered nurses in the region, posing a solution to boost staff numbers in a sector desperate for manpower.
“Given the aged care minister’s acknowledgement of the workforce challenges, why isn’t the Albanese Government investing in a great project we’ve got there?” he said.
“If you want to do something positive about it, invest in the Goulburn Valley Clinical Health School.
“I’ve been asking for this, La Trobe University has been asking for it, Goulburn Valley Health have been asking for it. It’s there; it’ll train heaps of nurses.
“We’re ready to get on with training the nurses, midwives and allied health staff that my region needs.
“So instead of saying ‘what did you do?’ we’ve got a project on the table — work together and help us fund it.”
