Aged care comes in many forms – from a simple annual gutter clean, through to more intensive services delivered to those at end of life. It also involves a wide range of people like  maintenance staff and gardeners, hospitality workers, nurses and carers, lifestyle teams, allied health staff, administration and more. They work in residential aged care, community centres or supporting our loved ones to live independently at home.

Aged care staff have been on a roller coaster ride over the last few years. They’ve dealt with the ups and downs of the pandemic – with ongoing changes to restrictions, negative media stories and staffing pressures. They’re a workforce filled with a diverse range of individuals from many backgrounds – some who have been separated from their own families for a long time.

In 2020-21 the government spent $23.3 billion on aged care – it is a big industry. In 2020, there were nearly 450,000 people working in the sector and many more are needed as our population ages. It is an industry that has its challenges but there are so many rewards and one of these is working with the people who provide a richness of experience, unlike many other industries.

Aged care employees are an amazing group of people who provide crucial support to allow older Australians to live well, or to be with them in their final days of life. Let’s all show how grateful we are for their tireless efforts and commitment – these do not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do today, yesterday and into the future. You truly are a special group of individuals.

As published in The Advertiser's Boomer lift-out on 8 August.