The coronavirus pandemic has shone a light on the persistent issues that plague the aged care sector, none more so than staffing levels.

A report released last year by the Royal Commission and researched by academics from the University of Wollongong found that 57.6 per cent of all Australian aged care residents live in homes that are understaffed.

The research found that Australia lags behind comparable nations such as the UK, New Zealand and even the US.

As the COVID-19 crisis hit the aged care sector and lockdowns were enforced nationwide, staff were placed under immense pressure, and experts believe that if aged care is to improve, more staff is a must.

Aged Care Insite spoke with Professor Kathy Eagar, director of the Australian Health Services Research Institute at UOW. Eagar and her colleagues authored the research and have recently released an article based on their findings titled, bluntly, ‘Australian Residential Aged Care is Understaffed’.