A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by Australian Unity Care Services Pty Ltd, Australian Unity Retirement Living Management Pty Ltd, Better Home Care Pty Ltd T/A Australian Unity for the Australian Unity Home Care Enterprise Agreement 2017 has been approved by Fair Work Deputy President Masson sitting in Melbourne on 10 May 2018.
May 16, 2018
Twice Betty Tuohy’s husband has disappeared from his Canberra aged care home without staff even noticing he was gone. He’s been in a home for the last year after being diagnosed with dementia and while Mrs Tuohy says some staff are wonderful, it’s clear for others it’s just a job. She shared her experiences on staffing shortfalls and care quality on Friday with a parliamentary committee investigating aged care services across Australia. After his first “escape”, Mr Tuohy was returned to his care home by two boys who found him in a nearby suburb after he’d fallen over. “The second time my daughters went down to visit after work. They went down to the room and he wasn’t there,” Mrs Tuohy said. “I put all this down to lack of staff; not enough staff to really know what is happening with them.” A third time Mr Tuohy was able to leave via a faulty gate. Mrs Tuohy believes there should also be mandatory education and qualification standards for carers, such as those for the childcare sector, and a requirement for facilities to have a 24-hour roster of registered nurses. Mark Brandon from aged care provider Estia Health told the committee he’d visited 300 nursing homes in the last few years. “The ones that seem to work really well are where the staff have a good relationship with the residents,” he said. The committee also heard changes to the Medicare levy or additional private health coverage could make funding for aged care services more sustainable. Kate Lawrence-Haynes, of Leading Aged Services Australia, said all funding levers had to be considered, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme. “(The government) needs to look at the Medicare levy, it potentially needs to look at (a) role for private insurance products so that people can insure themselves if they need residential care,” she said.
May 16, 2018
Nurse manager Brett Hayes from York took out the top gong at the Western Australian Nursing and Midwifery Awards at the weekend. The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) employee developed TelePalliative Care in the Home in the Wheatbelt in 2016. He was named the Western Australia’s Nurse of the Year. Mr Hayes, who works only in the Wheatbelt region, has been a nurse for 10 years and started his career in the city. “There is quite a contrast between metropolitan and regional nursing,” Mr Hayes said.
May 16, 2018
Susan Anson has lost her unfair dismissal case against the Western District Health Service.
May 16, 2018
Aged care nurses and carers have rallied in Melbourne, calling for laws to ensure minimum staffing ratios in private nursing homes. Kristine Byrnes, a carer at Euroa Health, said she often came home in tears and “had a gutful” after 20 years in the industry. She says she and one other worker have had to care for 30 to 60 residents between them.
May 16, 2018
A s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) by Ms Nektaria Natoli against Anglican Community Services t/a Anglicare has been rejected by Fair Work Deputy President Sams in Sydney on 14 May 2018. The case summary reads as follows: Application for an unfair dismissal remedy – dismissal of supervisor at aged care facility – allegations of serious misconduct – breaches of social media and bullying and harassment policies and the Agreement – offensive and threatening text messages and Facebook post sent by the applicant in response to partner’s damaged car – no evidence that recipient of text messages and subject of Facebook post caused the damage to the car – admissions of applicant – assumption of guilt based on earlier incidents – applicant the employee’s supervisor – investigation of allegations – meetings with applicant and Union representative – no contrition or apology – applicant claimed no training on social media policies or bullying and harassment policies – claims of excessive workload not made out – incident not ‘heat of the moment’ in anger – deliberate intention to scare employee – priority on harshness of dismissal – one prior warning now disputed – long period of exemplary service – awards and commendations – valid reason for dismissal – breaches of policies and Agreement – options other than dismissal such as mediation inappropriate – comparable alternative employment – no issues of procedural unfairness – mitigating factors do not outweigh seriousness of the allegations and lack of contrition – dismissal not harsh, unjust or unreasonable – application dismissed. Ms Nektaria Natoli commenced employment with Anglican Community Services on 26 September 2006 at its 123 bed residential aged care facility in Taren Point, New South Wales.
May 16, 2018
Police are investigating an incident that occurred on Thursday morning at a nursing home on Byng Street in Orange after reports a 82-year-old man attempted to take his own life. “We’re investigating an incident at a Byng Street nursing home involving an 82-year-old man and alleged attempts to end his own life,” Central West Police District Detective Inspector Bruce Grassick said. “As a result of that investigation, a 42-year-old male from Minto, who is known to the man, is currently assisting police with inquiries.” Detective Inspector Grassick said the 82-year-old man was being treated for non-life threatening injuries. No charges have been laid, and the investigation is still ongoing.
May 10, 2018
BKV Aged Care is up against a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) at 10.15am before Fair Work Deputy President Hamilton in his Melbourne chambers (Hill).
