Flu Jab Should be Mandatory for Aged Care Staff, Experts Say

Flu Jab Should be Mandatory for Aged Care Staff, Experts Say

Flu Jab Should be Mandatory for Aged Care Staff, Experts Say
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The flu jab is an is an important vaccination to help prevent against the known viruses that can cause the dangerous infection.

Yet despite this, the procedure is not compulsory for aged care workers in Australia before they enter the workforce.

Recently though, this oversight has been causing alarming problems in aged care industries across the country.

Flu Numbers Rising

Just last week, seven residents from a care home in Tasmania and another six from a Tasmanian nursing home died from flu outbreaks within the facilities.

The Department of Health and Human Services said the retirement village in Victoria contained 146 residents and 200 staff, of which 123 people were said to have been affected by the flu as a result of the outbreak, with similar numbers also occurring in the Tasmanian nursing home.

Dr. Brett Sutton, Victoria’s acting chief health officer, said that while the flu can affect anyone, elderly people are particularly susceptible.

“The deaths have occurred mostly in the last week, they were all elderly people in their 70s [and] into their 90s, all with pre-existing conditions so they were vulnerable to significant illness,” he said.

Yet Dr. Sutton also noted that recent figures of people affected by the flu are significantly higher than previous figures, meaning that the rise in outbreaks is not simply due to the health of its residents.

“We’ve had aged care facilities hit particularly hard this year with a record number of outbreaks in those settings and we’ve had elderly people in general affected more than most years.”

A Possible Solution?

The solution, Dr. Sutton says, lies with the carers families, but also, more importantly, with the aged care workers themselves.

“They [the elderly] are vaccinated in aged care facilities largely, including this one, but the vaccine doesn’t work as well in the very elderly so it’s incumbent upon those who are visiting and the staff in those facilities to try and be immunised and to exclude themselves from work if they’re unwell.”

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, has expressed his desire for mandatory flu vaccinations for aged care workers to be enforced by the time next year’s flu season begins.

“We’ll be moving to ensure all health workers in the aged care sector are vaccinated subject to any medical exemptions,” he said.

“This is an emerging issue — it’s never happened before in Australian history.”

Will Mandatory Flu Jabs Work?

However, some experts have expressed concerns that mandatory flu jabs may not be the best way to deal with the situation.

Lorraine Baker from the Australian Medical Association said that many people may not want the flu jab, and forcing it upon them could cause problems.

“I’m a GP, I go to nursing homes, I had patients who refuse to have the flu vaccine,” she said.

“Patients in nursing homes have the right to refuse vaccination.”

But Federal Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt, said that when there are lives at risk, mandatory flu vaccinations may be the best option.

“I would encourage people to get a vaccination or a flu injection, especially if you work in places with people who are vulnerable,” he said.

“I implore people to give serious consideration to staying away or wearing a mask.”

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The Albanese Labor Government has introduced a landmark Aged Care Bill, marking a once-in-a-generation reform to prioritise the rights, safety and dignity of older Australians. 

From 1 July 2025, the new Aged Care Act will bring significant changes, including:

-Tougher regulatory standards to ensure higher 
  accountability

-Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards for improved 
  care delivery

-A dedicated Statement of Rights for older Australians

-A $4.3 billion Support at Home program to help seniors live independently at home for longer

These reforms align with the Royal Commission’s recommendations, focusing on better complaint handling, greater participant choice, improved funding and enhanced fairness and quality across the sector.

If you’d like to learn more about how these changes impact you or your loved ones, Home Caring can guide you through the details. Please call us on 1300 875 377 for personalised support and assistance.

Read more 📱- health.gov.au/aged-care-act

#AgedCareReforms #SupportingOlderAustralians #australianhealthandagedcare #AHAC

The Albanese Labor Government has introduced a landmark Aged Care Bill, marking a once-in-a-generation reform to prioritise the rights, safety and dignity of older Australians.

From 1 July 2025, the new Aged Care Act will bring significant changes, including:

-Tougher regulatory standards to ensure higher
accountability

-Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards for improved
care delivery

-A dedicated Statement of Rights for older Australians

-A $4.3 billion Support at Home program to help seniors live independently at home for longer

These reforms align with the Royal Commission’s recommendations, focusing on better complaint handling, greater participant choice, improved funding and enhanced fairness and quality across the sector.

If you’d like to learn more about how these changes impact you or your loved ones, Home Caring can guide you through the details. Please call us on 1300 875 377 for personalised support and assistance.

Read more 📱- health.gov.au/aged-care-act

#AgedCareReforms #SupportingOlderAustralians #australianhealthandagedcare #AHAC
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The expo was an amazing opportunity for our teams to connect with the local community, meet new faces and raise awareness about the vital work we do. From sharing insights into our services to forming meaningful connections all of our Melbourne teams went above and beyond to make the event a resounding success. It’s clear that when you’re passionate about your work, it never feels like a job – and this passion was on full display throughout the weekend. A big thank you to everyone involved for representing Home Caring with such heart and dedication! 🩵

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The expo was an amazing opportunity for our teams to connect with the local community, meet new faces and raise awareness about the vital work we do. From sharing insights into our services to forming meaningful connections all of our Melbourne teams went above and beyond to make the event a resounding success. It’s clear that when you’re passionate about your work, it never feels like a job – and this passion was on full display throughout the weekend. A big thank you to everyone involved for representing Home Caring with such heart and dedication! 🩵
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Happy Friday HC fam!

It’s been a busy and productive week here at Home Caring with only forty days till the end of the year we are full steam ahead! One highlight was the team-building and networking session with our amazing Home Caring Bankstown team. The workshop was a huge success bringing everyone together to learn, grow and strengthen our skills.

These sessions are such a valuable part of what we do as they foster connection, build efficiency and empower us to deliver the best care to our clients. As we all know being a support worker can sometimes feel isolating but moments like these remind us of the incredible community we’re all a part of.

Let’s all carry that energy into the weekend—it’s going to be a hot one, so stay cool and take care! 🩵

Happy Friday HC fam!

It’s been a busy and productive week here at Home Caring with only forty days till the end of the year we are full steam ahead! One highlight was the team-building and networking session with our amazing Home Caring Bankstown team. The workshop was a huge success bringing everyone together to learn, grow and strengthen our skills.

These sessions are such a valuable part of what we do as they foster connection, build efficiency and empower us to deliver the best care to our clients. As we all know being a support worker can sometimes feel isolating but moments like these remind us of the incredible community we’re all a part of.

Let’s all carry that energy into the weekend—it’s going to be a hot one, so stay cool and take care! 🩵
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Happy Sunday HC fam! Recently our Home Caring Vermont team had the privilege of attending the 20th anniversary celebration of Hope City Mission, a vital organisation making a profound difference in our community. As proud sponsors we deeply admire their unwavering dedication to providing food relief, support and hope to those in need. Hope City Mission’s initiatives extend far and wide from their compassionate crisis support programs to sustainable efforts like planting seedlings, whose produce directly benefits people facing hardship. It’s a joy to stand beside them in their mission to uplift lives and foster resilience.

Our sponsorship reflects Home Caring’s core value of giving without expecting anything in return. We’re thrilled to have contributed to initiatives like installing a sprinkler system to nurture their community garden, where fresh produce is grown for those living in crisis. Supporting Hope City Mission means investing in kindness, growth and care and we couldn’t be prouder to play a part in their incredible journey. Here’s to creating positive change together! 🩵

#happysunday #welovewecare

Happy Sunday HC fam! Recently our Home Caring Vermont team had the privilege of attending the 20th anniversary celebration of Hope City Mission, a vital organisation making a profound difference in our community. As proud sponsors we deeply admire their unwavering dedication to providing food relief, support and hope to those in need. Hope City Mission’s initiatives extend far and wide from their compassionate crisis support programs to sustainable efforts like planting seedlings, whose produce directly benefits people facing hardship. It’s a joy to stand beside them in their mission to uplift lives and foster resilience.

Our sponsorship reflects Home Caring’s core value of giving without expecting anything in return. We’re thrilled to have contributed to initiatives like installing a sprinkler system to nurture their community garden, where fresh produce is grown for those living in crisis. Supporting Hope City Mission means investing in kindness, growth and care and we couldn’t be prouder to play a part in their incredible journey. Here’s to creating positive change together! 🩵

#happysunday #welovewecare
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