The 2020 Aged Care Workforce Census is a rich source of data that demonstrates the vital role of volunteers in the aged care workforce.
Our new factsheet provides a summary of key statistics from the 2020 Aged Care Workforce Census conducted by the Australian Government Department of Health.
It highlights key changes from the previous Aged Care Workforce Census 2016 and the impact of COVID-19 on volunteering across different aged care service industries: Residential Aged Care (RAC), Home Care Packages Program (HCPP), and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
Key Findings
- Volunteers were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the paid workforce. Volunteer participation in Residential Aged Care (RAC) was impacted greater than in Home Care Packages Program (HCPP) and Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
- In November 2020, there were 11,980 volunteers in RAC (a decline of 49% from 2016); 8,748 in HCCP; and 10,155 in CHSP.
- 74% of RAC providers, 16% of HCCP providers, and 57% of CHSP providers reported a decrease in their volunteers.
- Victoria was the hardest hit region in terms of staff attrition (paid and volunteer) and the delivery of HCPP services due to lengthy periods of lockdown.
- Volunteers across the three service industries assist with social activities, social companionship, and transportation. The type and frequency of volunteer roles vary across residential and home care and home support programs
- The 2020 Census contains less data on volunteers than the previous 2016 Census – as elaborated in Annex I.
