‘Pushed to the edge’: Australian aged care providers facing dire staff shortages, unions say

Essential visitors, a crucial support to staff who often help meet basic care needs for their family members, are often barred from facilities due to the lack of rapid tests. Photograph: Niedring/Drentwett/Getty Images/Cavan Images RF

Aged care workers are being “pushed to the edge” amid a worsening Omicron crisis, a lack of rapid tests, dire staffing shortages and effective bans on essential visitors, unions and advocates say.

Data suggests Omicron had spread to more than 700 aged care homes across Australia last week, compounding existing frailties in the aged care system.