The Queensland-based aged care provider BlueCare is facing significant backlash after announcing plans to reduce its nursing workforce by up to 60 percent. This decision affects employees at 21 facilities throughout the state and has raised concerns about the quality of care available to residents. According to reports, the cuts are set to commence this week, with 84 out of 130 enrolled nursing positions being eliminated.
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) has condemned the move, suggesting it will lead to a “drastic drop in care.” Union Secretary Sarah Beaman criticized BlueCare for restricting nurses from communicating the changes to families and residents, calling this approach “deeply concerning.” Beaman stated, “This is a cut of over 60 percent of the enrolled nurse workforce. Our members were told this two weeks ago… but they have been gagged.”
Financial Context and Union Response
BlueCare, which reportedly receives substantial government funding and charges residents over $950 a week along with a potential bed deposit of up to $650,000, claims that a recent shift in federal funding and regulatory changes has necessitated these cuts. In particular, the introduction of mandatory care minutes last year requires aged care facilities to provide residents with a minimum of 215 minutes of direct care each day. A BlueCare spokesperson stated that the organization is “not funded appropriately to retain enrolled nurses” and that they can no longer sustain the existing funding gap.
Despite BlueCare’s claims, data from the latest safe staffing report by Aged Care Watch indicates that 82 percent of surveyed facilities are operating below acceptable staffing levels. This report, which analyzed over 1,000 staffing reports, revealed that 60 percent of respondents felt pressured to perform tasks outside their designated roles, and 610 reported that residents were not receiving their minimum care time.
Beaman challenged BlueCare’s justification for the cuts, saying, “Simply not being able to afford it, that’s just not good enough. We know their profits are high, and we know that their equity and assets are high… they have the money to be able to retain their enrolled nurse workforce.” Concerns have also been raised about the potential replacement of enrolled nurses with less-experienced personal care workers who may not be equipped to handle complex patient needs.
Future Implications and Actions Taken
The QNMU has referred BlueCare’s actions to the federal Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, as well as the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, in hopes of addressing these critical staffing issues. Beaman emphasized that the new Aged Care Act aims to improve care standards, suggesting that BlueCare’s cuts contradict these objectives. “This is not going to achieve that,” she stated.
In response to the controversy, BlueCare has indicated that it is making efforts to support affected staff, including exploring opportunities for redeployment within the organization. As these developments unfold, the impact on both employees and residents remains to be seen, raising broader questions about the future of aged care in Queensland and beyond.
