Australia's elderly create new jobs

The impacts of aged care facilities on employment for rural and remote communities is under scrutiny in a new project at the Centre of Labour Market Research (CLMR).

CLMR, a consortium of Murdoch University, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, the University of Western Australia and the University of Canberra, received $115,000 from the Commonwealth Department for Health and Aged Care for the six-month investigation.

Around 700 facilities around Australia have been surveyed to obtain information about the facilities, including a sample of metropolitan providers to provide the basis for comparisons.

“The aim of the study is to provide the Department of Health and Aged Care with information about the structure of employment in facilities and the impact they have on direct and indirect employment in the regions where they are located,” said Mr Ross Kelly, researcher at the Centre.

“The project outcomes will provide the department with better planning tools that will enable it to meet the planning objectives of the Aged Care Act 1997, and target the department’s funding programs.”

The extent of part-time employment, the occupational structure of facilities, and the total employment generated will be examined.

The analysis will look at differences between regions on the basis of their remoteness, size of facilities and the level of care that they provide.