Council aged care workers not told about privatisation plan

After receiving a phone call from her local council informing of a plan to privatise in-home aged care services, Megan Peniston-Bird was left dumbstruck.

“The council service is quite efficient, with a certain amount of flexibility,” Mrs Peniston-Bird said.

“I just don’t see why anyone would want to get rid of it.”

Mrs Peniston-Bird, along with her husband have lived in Boroondara for more than 20 years. They have been recipients of its Commonwealth Home Support Programme in-home service for nine.

But after Boroondara Council approved an “in-principle” resolution to shift services to private provider Mecwacare last week, they will now lose the same carer they have had for nine years.

Their feelings about the plan are not unique.

While the officer report said 98 per cent of CHSP clients support the transition, a spokesperson for the Australian Services Union said they have not contacted any client or carer who is happy.

Even worse, she said, was Boroondara Council did not properly consult workers about the proposal, which will force more than 60 carers out of work.

“Workers were told by the clients they might be losing their jobs,” the spokesperson said.

“Remember, these are clients in their 80s and 90s that don’t really understand all the jargon that’s being used, so we feel they’ve been taken advantage of.”

“There is great disappointment among the workers.”

Despite being reluctantly forced to switch providers, Mrs Peniston-Bird said her concern is “probably more with the workers than the recipients”.

Nursing a cup of tea in her Kew retirement village apartment, she recalls a difficult conversation with her own carer about her imminent redundancy.

“Our helper can’t even go for a job or she’ll lose her redundancy package,” she said.

“What’s outrageous,” she said, is carers “have also been asked to take the new people around to show them the job”.

“No one deserves to be treated like that.”

As for the clients, Mrs Peniston-Bird said she is “one of the lucky ones,” only requiring home help once every fortnight.

“The move for some will be quite distressing,” she said.

Mrs Peniston-Bird said this episode is a sad reminder of the “very ageist society” she navigates.

“You become grey-haired and a bit stooped and you don’t count for anything much.”

“People need to understand we are very happy in our old-age, but there are many who aren’t getting a fair go.”