The Catholic Weekly 11 July 2021

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 11, July, 2021 THE NATION’S peak Catho- lic healthcare representative organisation has warned that many residential aged care homes will continue to face crippling financial pressure following the Government’s failure to adopt a key recom- mendation from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. In its final report the Com- mission concluded that the cost of providing quality care has been consistently rising faster than current indexa- tion, placing care providers in an “impossible situation.” It recommended changing the indexation formula by which residential care fund- ing is calculated in the short term until independent price determination arrangements based on periodic costing studies commence from July 2023. Using the current formula, indexation for 2021-22 in- creased on July 1 by just 1.1 per cent; the figure falls signif- icantly short of this year’s 2.5 per cent increase inminimum wages for aged care workers and the 0.5 per cent increase in compulsory superannua- tion contributions. The Commission’s recom- mended indexation formula would have resulted in care funding for residential aged care homes rising by 2.36 per cent in 2021-22. Catholic Health Australia CEO Pat Garcia said the Gov- ernment’s failure to adopt the Commission’s recommenda- tions would inevitably lead to many homes continuing to operate at a loss, and possibly even close or sell up. When our aged need it more than ever, Australia’s government is failing themmore than ever, peak Catholic health advocatewarns Aged care in crisis “Unfortunately, the rising cost of delivering quality care will largely offset the Govern- ment-funded $10 supplement to the basic daily fee that was announced in the Budget,” he said. “While the Budget also an- nounced significant addition- al funding for reforms, such as mandatory minimum staffing levels, this funding is tied to Australian government unwillingness to sufficiently contribute to aged care and nursing across the nation has increased the risk of the closure of such homes, Catholic Heath Australia has warned. Changing the indexation formula for funding was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. PHOTO:ALEX BOYD/UNSPLASH providers achieving addition- al specific outcomes. They do not address the long-standing underlying financial pres- sures being experienced by the sector. “Hence it’s one step for- ward and one step back for the sector. “Our fear is that if funding isn’t keeping pace with cost increases for the next two years, thenmore homes face a bleak future. “Following the Commis- sion’s report older Australians and their families are looking to government and the sector to provide certainty but un- fortunately these funding ar- rangements fail to provide it.” “Our workforce needs to be properly paid in order to deliver the best possible care, but the current funding for- mula doesn’t allow that.” The latest survey of finan- cial performance of aged care homes by Australian account- ing firm StewartBrown indi- cates that the average result for aged care homes across the nation is an annual deficit of $2,225 per bed. I n this edition Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 5192. The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by ACM Australian Community Media, 159 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond NSW, 2754. News Movies, books Archbishop’s homily Editorial & Letters 1-11 8-9 17 20-21 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Kenny (02) 9390 5348 EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 Debbie Cramsie (02) 9390 5396 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 Katie Clarke (02) 9390 5402 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Faith in the trajectory of life catch it now at: thiscatholiclife.com.au LEAVE A GIFT Archdiocese of Sydney Catholic CHARITIES Order your FREE Wills and Bequests Guide today 1800 753 959 or [email protected] myWill SUPPORTINGTHE MINISTRIES OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY Leaving a gift in a Celebrating loved ones for over 90 years Trevor Lee & Son is a family business that has helped families celebrate and remember their loved ones for over 90 years. ♦ Intimate and personal funeral services ♦ Professional, compassionate staff, available 24 hours a day ♦ On site or in the comfort of your own home ♦ Servicing all areas of Metropolitan Sydney and Country NSW ♦ Pre-Paid Funerals available Contact Bernadette (nee O’Hare), Trevor or Darren Lee on 9746 2949 to arrange an appointment. Our fear is that if funding isn’t keeping pace with cost increases for the next two years, then more homes face a bleak future.” Pat Garcia, Catholic Health Australia CEO ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues