Residents and workers at Monash Gardens and Elizabeth Gardens aged care facilities, in Melbourne’s south-east, are still locked in a battle with the Monash City Council over plans to privatise both.
In October, Monash Council voted to proceed with the sale in spite of significant community opposition. In a historic stance, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation members at the facilities last week resolved to fight to maintain the present staffing levels and skills mix, regardless of any sale.
The quality of care provided at the facilities is regarded as among the best in the state. This is due in large part to decent staffing numbers in these council-owned homes.
Private aged care providers, both for-profit and not-for-profit, generally reduce staff numbers in order to lower running costs. The result is unreasonable workloads, leading to poor quality care and neglect of the elderly.
Union members will demand that the council make a contractual guarantee of its promise to keep the same standard of care. It is important that the ANMF has thrown its considerable weight behind the campaign.

ANMF members fight to retain aged care staffing

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