RE-ELECTED South Australian Federal Member, Rebekha Sharkie will reintroduce her Staffing Ratio Disclosure Bill. The Bill will require aged care facilities to publish staff-to-resident ratios on the My Aged Care website.
Sharkie has stated that her Bill will assist people to make more informed choices when investigating aged care facilities. She said that the legislation would be a step forward in increasing transparency in this sector.
When the Bill was originally introduced in 2018, it secured the support of the Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt and the approval of the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport.
The Standing Committee made several suggestions, which has led to Sharkie adopting two changes to her Bill. The changes include publishing staff ratios in a way that allows consumers to compare the level of care that is provided at facilities, and also a 12-month review of the Bill to determine whether there should be more reporting on staff number differences during the day, night and over the weekend.
Sharkie has said her legislation is a sensible measure that can be implemented without waiting for the outcome of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
