About
What is Found Poetry?
‘A Shocking Tale of Neglect’
That was the description chosen to summarise the findings outlined in the Interim Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The findings from the Royal Commission revealed a sad and shocking system which not only fails to meet the needs of its older, vulnerable, citizens but is often unkind and uncaring towards older people. From the various hearings, community forums, and submissions we heard about the physical and sexual abuse that occurs at the hands of staff members, and also other residents. We learned off the frequent and inappropriate use of unsafe and inhumane restrictive practices , the high rates of mental health issues and malnutrition, and a range of other issues.
The ‘Care’ in Aged Care is gone forgotten missing
While there are instances of abuse, neglect, and exploitation that do occur in the aged care service environment by staff, much of the issues surrounding neglect stem from systemic issues related to understaffing and a focus on task-based care rather than person-centred care. While many aged care staff would like to provide a better level of care, many are trying their best while dealing with excessive work demands and extreme constraints on their time and resources. For many this means that they are overworked, rushed, and under pressure, which often results in ‘missed care’. Missed care not only has serious implications for the health and safety of residents, but also means that people’s social and emotional needs are not met, with oversights such as placing a cup of tea just out of reach, or call bells unanswered, which can have a tremendous impact on a person’s mental health.
Aged Care Workers Perspectives
Frontline care workers urgently need policy and workforce reform measures to ensure that they receive the support, training and job security they need and deserve to provide quality care to aged care residents – our most vulnerable citizens.
The average personal aged care worker in Australia is a woman, earns A$23/hour, overseas-born, lacks job security, and faces physical and psychological risks daily. Aged care workers operate in a high-stress environment, typified by chronic understaffing, casualisation, low rates of pay and high staff turnover. A recent Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, called in response to documented care failures, further highlighted the challenges facing the workforce: extensive casualisation, rates of pay which lag behind retail workers, and barriers to professionalisation.
While personal care workers comprise 60% of the aged care workforce, their experiences and recommendations are rarely heard in policy reform. This project amplifies their unique voices, applying the unconventional arts-informed research method of research poetry.
Workshops