Key takeaways

There’s a popular misconception that Australians don’t want jobs in paid care work. But in reality 60 per cent of Australians are well disposed to work in this field, which encompasses aged care, childcare and disability support. And a quarter would consider working in the care services sector in the future. Among Australians aged 18 to 34, this figure rises to 35 per cent. It is generally viewed as fulfilling or rewarding work.

However, research from ANU Crawford School of Public Policy shows that there are barriers to people taking up these jobs.

A demographically representative survey of 1,035 people across all states and territories shows that many Australians believe paid care work is undervalued, especially when it comes to pay and conditions. Fewer than three in 10 Australians think these conditions are fair.

The research points to several options for policymakers to address these issues and harness Australians’ desire to be care workers.

Including care metrics in the federal budget.

Including care metrics in budget and wellbeing reporting and considering the impacts of all political and industrial relations decisions on both informal carers and paid care workers, would help promote a national conversation about the social and economic value of care.

Investing in high quality care services.

Investing in high quality childcare, disability support, respite services, after school and vacation care would facilitate workforce participation and reduce stress and poverty, particularly for women and younger people. Affordable and available disability support and aged care services, childcare services and vacation/out of school care were all rated as ‘important’ or ‘very important’ by over a third of Australians carers.

Increasing workers’ take-home pay.

Raising the pay and improving conditions of workers in the formal care and support sector would help meet future workforce demand, assist with future recruitment and retention – particularly of under-represented cohorts such as men and younger people – and advance gender equity. Critically, these may help raise the standard of care and support.