Providers, residents and families are urged to say a giant "thanks for caring" to our dedicated aged care staff to mark Aged Care Employee Day on August 7.
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This will be the fifth time the Aged and Community Care Providers Association has celebrated 427,000 residential care, home care and retirement living staff on their special day.
Staff range from nurses to personal care workers and allied health professionals to lifestyle coordinators, hospitality teams, drivers, cooks cleaners, administration staff and so many others, who care for more than 1.5 million older Australians.
Chief executive Tom Symondson said workers in aged care had gone above and beyond the call of duty in the past year and continue to face immense challenges.
"Aged Care Employee Day has become an important date in our calendar and reminds us of the caring and professional work of our aged care staff," Mr Symondson said.
"They're the backbone, the people who support our elders day in and day out. They make the lives of older Australians better.
"Our staff have faced the most challenging of conditions and been tested to the limit during the COVID pandemic, but they've proven to be care 'superheroes'."
"Be they personal carers, nurses, kitchen and laundry staff, diversion therapy staff, allied health professionals, administrators, gardeners or volunteers, they have all worked above and beyond the call of duty to keep our vulnerable older Australians cared for and safe."
Mr Symondsen also encourages aged care staff to take a moment for themselves to regroup, take a breath and recharge.
"They all deserve our thanks for their professionalism, their warmth and their enthusiasm to help older Australians live comfortably."
Aged care residents and clients, their families and friends can join the association in thanking aged care staff by sending photos and videos to media@accpa.asn.au to be uploaded to the association's website.
- www.accpa.asn.au or 1300-222-721.