Workforce crisis in residential aged care : Insights from rural older workers

Journal article

Hodgkin, Suzanne, Warburton, Jeni, Savy, Pauline and Moore, Melissa. (2017). Workforce crisis in residential aged care : Insights from rural older workers. Australian Journal of Public Administration. 76(1), pp. 93-105. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12204
AuthorsHodgkin, Suzanne, Warburton, Jeni, Savy, Pauline and Moore, Melissa
Abstract

In Australia, workforce shortages in residential aged care present a significant challenge for the aged care industry. The growing demand for workers in aged care, combined with the shrinking supply of younger workers entering the field, highlights a future workforce crisis. The current shortfalls are set to worsen with the retirement of a generation of women who have provided the backbone of the workforce. Although targeted retention of this group may alleviate this issue, few studies have explored the retirement decisions of this cohort. This paper reports on a qualitative study of this cohort of Victorian public sector residential aged care staff. Although current government rhetoric promotes intrinsic rewards (altruism, moral fulfilment) over extrinsic rewards (excessive workload, pay and conditions), a combination of these factors was associated with job satisfaction. It would seem timely to revisit some of these concerns to ensure an adequate and sufficiently skilled workforce.

Keywordsgender; public sector; residential aged care; rural; workforce
Year2017
JournalAustralian Journal of Public Administration
Journal citation76 (1), pp. 93-105
PublisherInstitute of Public Administration Australia
ISSN0313-6647
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12204
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84978698468
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range93-105
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online21 Jun 2016
Publication process dates
Accepted03 May 2016
Deposited16 Jun 2021
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