Graeme Prior takes over leadership role at ACWIC

aged Care Workforce Industry Council (ACWIC) Chair

Libby Lyons recently advised the Board of her decision to resign, citing a belief that now was the right time to pass leadership on.

ACWIC Deputy Chair

Graeme Prior will assume leadership of ACWIC, with Ms Lyons’ resignation, effective immediately.

Mr Prior said Ms Lyons had made a significant contribution to the organisation and the aged care sector more broadly.

“Under Libby’s leadership ACWIC has been able to make tremendous improvements to the aged care workforce and shape important reform for the system across the country,” Mr Prior said.

“Libby is a formidable leader, with her positive yet forthright approach quickly attracting respect across the sector. We are grateful for her commitment to ACWICshe will be missed.”

Ms Lyons called on aged care providers to protect the important role of Enrolled Nurses (ENs) to ensure clients have access to highquality care and pushed for pay rises for workers to be bumped from 15 to 25%.

Mr Prior’s history with the Council and his role as cofounder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hall & Prior Aged Care Group saw him as the perfect fit to take over and carry on the work Ms Lyons had achieved, especially for aged care workers.

“I’ve been a director of ACWIC for several years now,” he said. “I believe in the power of this council to support collaborative change. “I hear about issues that affect aged care workers every day - from cost-ofliving increases, workloads, education and career needs, to ensuring a good work/life balance. It’s important that our aged care workforce is valued and rewarded for the exceptional work they deliver every day.”

Ms Lyons said she was very proud of the work she has done with ACWIC.

“Since joining ACWIC, I have been inspired by the capability and approach of its people and impressed by the organisation’s capacity to deliver, despite a challenging and ever-changing operating environment,” Ms Lyons said.

“The aged care sector is fortunate to have ACWIC’s important work led by a strong and experienced Board and talented executive. I have enjoyed my time with the team at ACWIC and engagement with stakeholders of the sector.”

Looking to the future, Mr Prior is confident in the sector’s ability to reform itself to make it a more compliant and pleasant experience to navigate for providers, workers and consumers but that it needed to show unity in order for it to be done.

“There is so much scope to build and equip the aged care workforce to deliver the care that older people, their families and carers expect, but no single organisation can do it alone,” Mr Prior said.

“All the stakeholders must work together. That’s what makes ACWIC unique, bringing the sector together to find consensus and implement practical solutions.

“There is a considerable amount of experience across ACWIC’s Board and executive so ACWIC is well-positioned to continue to deliver its workplan and agenda.”

Pay rise on the way - but not for all

Almost immediately, Mr Prior was called on to give his view on the recent decision to increase aged care pay after the Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruled it would pass on the interim 15% wage increase in full from June 30, despite the Government’s plans to roll it out in two phases.

The decision would mean a 15% increase to the minimum wage for the Aged Care Award, Nurses Award and Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award. This means direct care workers such as Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Enrolled Nurses will also be joined by head chefs and recreational activities/lifestyle officers in receiving the pay boost.

Mr Prior said that FWC had made the right decision but he also remained focused on the long-term implementation of the wage increase.

“It is wonderful to see that more aged care workers will get a timely wage increase to acknowledge the value of the essential work that they do,” said Mr Prior.

“I encourage the Commonwealth to move quickly to support the funding of the wage rise in full, from June 30.

“However, there are still other aged care workers including support and administration staff, and other food services workers, who are not included in the wage increase.

“These workers are central to the provision of safe, personcentred care and their work should be properly valued.”

Aged care workers who deliver cleaning, catering and maintenance services are among those still left out of the minimum wage increase.