BY HOLLY FISHLOCK/ OLIVIA DILLON
A new report detailing the extent of staff shortages in Australia's aged care sector is shining a light on vacancy rates at facilities in the Hunter.
Findings by the Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA) have revealed one in seven nursing home beds across the country are sitting empty.
Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery says she is extremely concerned about the under-use of local facilities, such as the Wallsend Aged Care Centre.
Workers say the Local Health District has kept 68 of the 98 beds at the Wallsend facility unfilled for the past two years, despite hospitals and other services in the region running above capacity.
"Those in the later stages of dementia, or that need constant 24-hour assistance, that's the place to be for the kind of quality of care that people need," Ms. Hornery said.
"It's still remaining open to the public and I will be lobbying and continue to lobby to ensure it is open to the public. It's a state government funded facility, which is rare in the state, but it does mean that all of the staff are under a state award."
CEDA has proposed accelerating the recruitment of migrant workers in the care economy to free up bed block in hospitals. The report says the government must also find new ways to financially support the aged-care sector.
Sonia Hornery says the well-being of aged care workers needs to be a priority, if more local services are to thrive.
"It's very important to ensure that nurses are supported, and all staff in aged-care facilities," she said.
A government spokesperson said it had responded by funding an $11.3 billion pay increase for workers.
