Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, today announced the appointment of Commissioner Anne Gooley as the Chair of the Aged Care Strategic Workforce Advisory Group, which meets for the first time in Canberra today.  

Minister Butler said that Ms Gooley, a Commissioner at Fair Work Australia, will lead the development of an Aged Care Workforce Compact in close consultation with the aged care sector and unions.

“One of the major constraints to growing the aged care system to meet the needs of older Australians is workforce shortages,” Mr Butler said.

“The Compact will help the aged care sector attract and retain staff through higher wages, improved career structures, and enhanced training and education opportunities.

“Not only do we want to see improvements in aged care, but better jobs for workers in the sector,” Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten said.

Through its Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package, the Australian Government will provide $1.2 billion over five years to tackle critical shortages in the aged care workforce.

The Compact will result in a tripartite commitment between government, unions and aged care providers to tackle the workforce problems confronting the sector.

It will ensure a skilled workforce is attracted and retained to meet growing demand for more skilled staff in the sector

Commisioner Gooley was appointed to Fair Work Australia effective from January 2010.  Previously she was public interest litigation principal at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.  She has a teaching and research background and subsequently reached the level of Assistant Secretary, Victorian Branch of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance before joining Maurice Blackburn in 1998. .

“Commissioner Gooley has extensive experience in workplace relations and will work closely with all aged care stakeholders to develop the Compact,” Mr Shorten said.

Media contacts:
Minister Butler’s office - Tim O’Halloran 0409 059 617
Minister Shorten’s office – Sam Casey 0421 697 660