Australia’s aged care sector is grappling with a workforce crisis that industry leaders are calling the most acute in the sector’s history, with demand for both residential and in-home care services continuing to outpace the supply of qualified workers.
The shortage comes at a particularly difficult time, with Australia’s ageing population driving record demand for aged care services and the sector still absorbing the sweeping reforms recommended by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The Scale of the Shortage
According to the Aged Care Industry Association, Australia currently needs an additional 35,000 full-time aged care workers to meet current demand — a number expected to grow to over 110,000 by 2030 as the baby boomer generation continues to age into care settings.
The gap is felt most acutely in regional and rural areas, where facilities are reporting vacancy rates of up to 40 percent for personal care workers and registered nurses.
Why Workers Are Leaving
The Royal Commission’s reforms brought significant pay increases for aged care workers, with the Fair Work Commission awarding a 15 percent wage rise in 2023. However, industry bodies say pay alone has not been enough to retain experienced workers or attract new entrants into the sector.
High workloads, emotional burnout, and historically low professional status continue to drive workers away from the sector — particularly registered nurses, who can earn significantly more in hospital or community health settings.
Impact on Families
For families with loved ones in residential care or receiving in-home support packages, the workforce shortage is translating to reduced hours, delayed services, and in some cases, the loss of preferred workers with whom care recipients have built trusted relationships.
Families are being advised to communicate proactively with their aged care providers and, where possible, to have contingency arrangements in place.
What the Government Is Doing
The federal government has committed to several workforce initiatives including expanded visa pathways for international aged care workers, increased funding for vocational training, and a new national aged care workforce strategy expected to be released later this year.
Epik Wire will continue to track these developments closely. Subscribe to our newsletter for daily aged care news and updates.
