Supplementary report on workforce and work value issues in Australian home care for older people

This supplementary report presents the findings of research on the nature and valuation of care work in home care and home support in Australia, in the context of change in the structure of the sector and in community expectations about aged care. The focus is the care work carried out by employees under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services [SCHADS] Industry Award (2010), who provide personal care, maintenance, domestic assistance and support services to older people living in the community. These employees work in organisations that are funded under two main Australian Government programs: the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and the Home Care Packages program (HCPs). To understand the changing nature of care work in home care requires knowledge about change in 1) the group of people who receive home care services, 2) the role and operation of the home care and support system, and 3) the structure and characteristics of the workforce employed to provide care and support, and 4) models of care and support. The report analyses these aspects of the Australian home care and support system and discusses the implications of the trends identified for home care and support work. The research is based on analysis of a wide range of official data, public policy documents related to aged care, and other national and international peer-reviewed studies about home care and support.