A new national strategy is being developed to protect the nation’s care and supporting its economy by ensuring the nation can provide sustainable, high quality care and support for Australians into the future.
Ensuring that people providing the nation’s services have decent jobs, the draft National Strategy for the Care and Support Economy is in the hands of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, (PM&C) and currently open for public consultation.
The PM&C said the new Strategy was encouraging carers, the care and support workforce, the people who receive care and support and everyone in the broader community to have their say on the draft Strategy.
“All of us will need care and support at some point in our lives,” the PM&C said.
“Whether it’s as children, people with disability getting the right support, those who served in our armed forces, or older Australians being guaranteed dignity and security.”
It said the new strategy would focus on improving the quality of care and support jobs within four key sectors – early childhood education and care, disability support, veterans’ care and aged care.
“It also considers how we can make sure government investment in these sectors is as effective as it can be so that it supports Australians’ quality of life and our economic productivity and prosperity,” the PM&C said.
“These sectors are growing contributors to our national economy, with demand for care and support services on the rise,” it said.
“As they continue to grow, care and support sectors will be fundamental to providing jobs, supporting workforce participation and improving our national productivity.
Securing the future of the care and support economy will make sure Australians can receive the high quality services they need.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the Strategy saying every Australian should have access to high quality care and support which meant we need to invest in high quality jobs in this sector.
“The care and support workforce is integral to the Australian economy, particularly as demand for aged care and early education services is on the rise,” Mr Albanese said.
“The Australian Government is committed setting a new direction for this sector through an accessible and sustainable care and support economy.”
He said that to do this, we all need to hear from the people directly impacted by it.
“I encourage people to have their say on the draft Strategy so we can ensure it reflects the needs of the community,” Mr Albanese said.
PM&C said the draft strategy was the start of a national conversation about our vision and direction for the care and support economy.
It said people could have their say through the DP&C website.
The website can be accessed at this PS News link.
