HSU urges government to support aged-care workers amid $3bn sector injection

The Health Services Union (HSU) stressed the need for workforce sustainability and planning to be “front and centre” to the expansion of the aged-care sector as it welcomed the government’s funding boost last week.

Last week, the federal government announced a $3 billion investment in the aged-care sector in its 2026 budget, including the provision of an additional 5,000 beds per year for older Australian patients.

Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler said: “This $3 billion investment builds on our commitment to deliver more beds, more packages and better care for older Australians, to ensure they get the support they deserve.”

Within this injection, the government pledged $1 billion to the Support at Home program, making it and other clinical care free for eligible patients.

HSU national secretary Lloyd Williams welcomed the increased funding for the sector and the Support at Home reforms. “Older Australians deserve equitable access to quality care, and the workers who deliver that care deserve to be properly supported, planned for and protected.”

“The HSU has been advocating hard for Support at Home reforms, and we congratulate the Albanese government on changes that will mean older Australians are no longer left out of pocket just to have basic personal care needs met.”

In light of these changes, the union emphasised that workforce planning must be aligned with the expansion of services.

“Any changes to residential aged-care subsidies must be made with considered workforce planning. That means having unions at the table at every stage of reform rollout,” Williams said.

“Workforce sustainability must be front and centre of any decision to expand residential care capacity. Any additional payments made to providers must be strictly defined, governed, and monitored. Workers cannot be short-changed to pad provider profits.

“This is a substantial investment in a sector that has been under enormous pressure, and we commend the government for acting.”

In the same announcement, the federal government also confirmed the allocation of $200 million for 20 specialist dementia care program units, as well as the expansion of the Hospital to the Aged Care Dementia Support Program.

“The workers who deliver dementia care and specialist aged-care services hold up Australia’s essential care and support economy. Their rights must be protected and sustained as the sector grows,” Butler said.