The Albanese Government is investing billions of dollars to increase the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) price to $253.82 from 1 December 2023.
Our $2.194 billion commitment will support residential aged care providers to fund the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review decision, which increases the award wage for aged care staff by 5.75%.
The increase accounts for back pay funding for the 1 July to 30 November period and ensures aged care homes are funded to pay the increased award wages for registered nurses, enrolled nurses, assistants in nursing, personal care workers and recreational activities officers (lifestyle workers).
As part of this uplift to support the award wage rise, an additional $21.5 million has been committed for 24/7 RN supplement funding, also commencing 1 December 2023.
From 2024, the annual price for AN-ACC will be announced in August and come into effect on 1 October. This gives residential aged care providers greater certainty in the government funding they will receive each year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells:
“Yet again, the Albanese Government is proving our commitment to aged care, investing more than $2 billion so every aged care home will have the funding to make this wage increase a reality for a deserving care workforce – a workforce that has been undervalued for far too long.”
“This money is in addition to the $11.3 billion to fund the biggest ever wage increase for aged care workers of 15 per cent.
“Through more funding for aged care homes, better wages for staff and improved care for residents, the Albanese Government is continuing to turn the dial on a safer, more equitable aged care system for generations to come.”
