Aged care reform continues to highlight the critical role of staffing, and the latest data shows there’s still a long way to go.
According to figures released by the Department of Health and Aged Care, nearly half of Australia’s aged care homes failed to meet the mandated direct care minute targets in the final quarter of 2023. More alarmingly, almost a third of facilities missed their targets by over 10 minutes per resident, per day.
The Care Minute Mandate: What’s Required
Since October 1, 2023, aged care homes have been required to deliver an average of:
- 200 minutes of direct care per resident, per day
- Including 40 minutes of care delivered by a Registered Nurse (RN)
These benchmarks are based on individual assessments of each facility’s residents and are designed to ensure residents receive the support they need.
The Reality: How Homes Are Performing
Between October and December 2023, data shows:
- 763 services (30.7%) missed their target by more than 10 minutes
- 181 homes (7.3%) fell short by 5–10 minutes
- 129 homes (5.2%) missed the target by 2–5 minutes
- 104 homes (4.2%) missed by 0–2 minutes
In total:
- Only 52.3% of homes met their total care minute target
- Just 46.4% met the RN-specific requirement
- Fewer than one-third (32.4%) of homes met both targets
These figures underscore the ongoing workforce challenges in the sector.
A Government Perspective
Despite the shortfalls, Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells maintained a positive stance, stating:
“We promised more carers with more time to care, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.”
She pointed to the increase in average care minutes delivered since 2021 as a sign of progress.
According to the data:
- Average care minutes delivered: 201.93 per resident, per day (slightly above the 201.70-minute target)
- Average RN minutes delivered: 38.76, falling 1.4 minutes short of the 40.16-minute target
Why It Matters
These care minute requirements stem from recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The Commission made it clear: adequate staffing is essential for safe, high-quality aged care.
Falling short on care minutes doesn’t just mean a compliance issue, it can have real implications for resident wellbeing, staff burnout, and an organisation’s ability to meet the expectations of families and regulators.
