The industrial and professional organisation for nurses and midwives in Australia
Canberra Office (Professional Services)
Unit 3, 28 Eyre Street Kingston ACT 2604
Australia
PO Box 4239 Kingston ACT 2604 Australia
+ 61 2 6232 6533 (T) + 61 2 6232 6610 (F)
anfcanberra@anf.org.au
Melbourne Office (Industrial Services)
Level 1, 365 Queen Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia
+ 61 3 9602 8500 (T) + 61 3 9602 8567 (F)
industrial@anf.org.au
anfmelbourne@anf.org.au
ANF Journals
Australian Nursing Journal
Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing
anj@anf.org.au ajan@anf.org.au
ABN 41 816 898 298
media release
Four times as many aged care nurses needed by
2050
1 February 2010
Australia will need a staggering four times as many aged care nurses by 2050 to care for the
nation’s ageing population.
The Australian Nursing Federation’s Federal Secretary Ged Kearney said the government’s
intergenerational report highlighted the importance of investing in the aged care sector.
“Given the government’s projection of 1.8 million people aged over 85 by 2050, the number
of aged care residents in that age group will grow from just over 87,000 today to more than
400,000 by 2050.”
“Unless there is a serious injection of funding into the aged care sector people aged over 45-
years-old right now who are expecting that there will be nurses to look after them when they
are older may instead find themselves uncared for.
“Another major concern is the estimated 1.1 million people who will suffer dementia by
2050.”
“Without appropriate healthcare professionals in nursing homes, high-need residents will
flood hospital emergency departments and more and more elderly Australians will languish in
acute hospital beds for conditions that could have been managed more efficiently in their
residence and with much less emotional trauma.
“Investing in the future of aged care nursing makes economic sense,” Ms Kearney said.
“The treasurer has outlined the need for smarter more efficient use of the health dollar as a
measure to combat the challenge – a qualified and sufficient aged care workforce is the
answer.
“Nurses are leaving the sector because they are being paid on average $300 less a week than
their colleagues in other sectors. They feel that their work is undervalued. This report has
shown that in fact nurses are not only a vital component in assuring Australians get the care
they need, but are also economically prudent.”
“Let’s improve productivity in aged care by ensuring there are enough nurses and personal
carers and they are paid what they are worth.”
Media Contacts
Eleni Hale, Media and Communications (03) 9602 8522 / 0402337388
Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322
Lee Thomas, ANF Assistant Federal Secretary, 0419 576 590
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