Older Australians are being placed in immediate danger as rising fuel prices are making in-home aged care services impossible for home care workers to perform, the United Workers Union warns.
In-home aged care workers travel every day between older Australians’ homes to deliver essential services including personal care, meals, medication assistance and social connection.
But their minimal award conditions and employer-paid fuel-and-car expenses have never met their full fuel costs.
In a snap poll on the issue conducted this week, more than 540 home care workers said they travelled an average of 260km a week as fuel prices surge above $2.50 a litre. The same survey showed home care workers reporting they are out of pocket by an average of $160 as the crisis continues.
The union warns that without urgent government action severe impacts will be felt across all areas, including regional areas where workers can travel 1000km and more a week.
At current prices that travel represents a weekly fuel bill of at least $275 – or more than a quarter of the $1068 weekly pay of a level 3 full-time home care worker.
Home care workers in the snap poll said they will be “limiting their radius”, “services will be missed” and “staff will leave the sector” if nothing is done.
The United Workers Union is calling on the Albanese Labor Government to act immediately to ensure in-home aged care workers who use their own car for travel are reimbursed, with fuel vouchers that reflect rising fuel costs.
“This action cannot be delayed,” United Workers Union Aged Care Director Catalina Gonzalez said today.
“Without urgent government intervention, in-home aged care services are at risk right now and older Australians are in danger of missing the care they rely on every day.
“This isn’t just a workforce issue, it’s a quality of care and dignity issue. If workers can’t afford the fuel to do their work, older Australians miss medications, go without meals, miss essential wound care, and are left without personal care or the daily check-ins that support their wellbeing.
“Every missed visit increases the risk of falls, missed personal care, and dangerous isolation for older Australians relying on home care.”
Silvana, an in-home aged care worker based in South Australia said: “What is most stressful to me is having to watch my petrol gauge every day … not knowing if fuel is going to be available or not. Without adjustments to reflect real travel conditions, this pressure risks becoming unsustainable for the workforce.”
Krystal, an in-home aged care worker based in New South Wales said: “It’s terrifying about the fuel prices. Although my employer increased the fuel subsidy rate by 5 cents per litre, it’s just not enough to cover the increases.”
Teresa, an in-home aged care worker from New South Wales said: “Employers don’t care where they send you. We are now having to watch the distances we travel to each place to make sure we make it home after a shift. All the extra fuel expenses are passed onto us. More people are planning to leave the home care service.”
Sarah, an in-home aged care worker from Queensland said: “When frontline workers struggle, the entire community feels it. Our reduced capacity means fewer support hours, fewer welfare checks, and fewer opportunities for vulnerable people to stay safe, healthy, and connected.”
Additional quotes from the survey:
My fuel costs are almost double and I use 80% of total fuel cost for work. I can drive up to 40kms between clients. Soon I won’t be able to afford to run my car. I think if it continues people will not be able to afford to drive to work and if there is a fuel shortage how will clients be prioritised to maintain the care they need? – Home care worker, SA
I am recently putting my clients’ needs before my own so they don’t miss out on their needs. They will have to miss out on necessary shifts if the carers cannot get there due to fuel costs or lack of fuel. – Home care worker, Vic
It’s costing me $200 a week… I have started using my leave like a lot of others making us short-staffed and cutting services. – Home care worker, Tas
I am struggling with my own bills already and trying to keep up with fuel bills for work has a massive hit on my mental well-being. (This will have) a massive impact for the elderly, especially those living alone. – Home care worker, Qld
My fuel bill has doubled and I’m not able to afford driving anywhere other than work. It’s also taken from my budget elsewhere. Care workers will call in sick or cancel to clients who are too far which will mean clients go without services for 4 weeks in some cases if they’re not able to find someone to fill the service in time. – Home care worker, NSW