The Aged and Disability Care industry is being held back by a reliance on temporary staffing with employees often juggling shifts and, in many cases working for more than one service provider. This day-to-day approach to staffing and dependence on agencies to meet staff shortages is unsustainable long-term. It places unrealistic pressure on existing staff and contributes to the high turnover of employees, with a negative impact on the quality of service. This is particularly the case with a growing industry.

Aged and Disability Care service providers compete with other industries for a sustainable workforce. This will only exacerbate as the pool of available workers continues to dwindle. It is vital that service providers in the industry grow their own pool of staff with the right skills, attributes and attitude.

Industry submissions to the 2017 Senate Inquiry on the Future of Australia’s Aged Care Workforce, recognise a more long-term approach to staffing is needed in an industry which is expected to grow to unprecedented levels over coming years.

Bridging the Gap offers such a model by encouraging service providers to recognise the long-term benefits of creating new, real permanent jobs for workers and consider the particular skill-sets needed to provide efficient, high quality services.