Supporting Aged Care Worker Wellbeing

A Qualitative Document Analysis of the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards

Bibliographic Data

ID21458557
AuthorsSharon Rose Stoddart (0000-0003-1630-8467, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia, corresponding author), K Churruca (0000-0002-9923-3116, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia), Maree Saba (0000-0002-1698-9891, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia), Janet C Long (0000-0002-0553-682X, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia), Peter Hibbert (0000-0001-7865-343X, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia), Amy Nguyen (0000-0003-4603-564X, Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia), Viviana Wuthrich (Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia), Bronwyn Newman (0000-0002-5147-7381, Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia), Len Gray (0000-0003-2141-0802, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Science University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia), Hilda Bø Lyng (0000-0001-7107-4224, Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Resilience in Healthcare SHARE University of Stavanger Stavanger Norway), Jeffrey Braithwaite (0000-0003-0296-4957, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia), Louise A Ellis (0000-0001-6902-4578, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia)
Year2026
Publication date2026-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAustralian Journal of Social Issues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0157-6321 • E-ISSN: 1839-4655
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajs4.70124
OpenAlexW7166826558
LanguageEN
References cited26

Aged care work is physically and emotionally demanding. Workers can feel disempowered, vulnerable and at increased risk of experiencing work‐related stress. This in turn can result in sub‐optimal care and staff shortages. This study aimed to investigate what provisions exist within Australia's strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards to support aged care worker safety and wellbeing. Document analysis was conducted on the new Aged Care Quality Standards document and 13 ancillary documents. Three provisions were identified, presented as themes: (1) Keeping aged care workers safe; (2) Workforce needs; and (3) Empowering aged care workers. The standards address important issues like work conditions and make provisions for workers' voice to be heard, thus supporting worker empowerment. However, there is a need for focussed attention to aged care workers' safety that further considers the complexity of aged care work and includes plans that are both targeted and that address systemic issues to support aged care workers' wellbeing. Additionally, issues related to leadership competence and worker protections from violence are under‐emphasised

Aged care · Care work · Elderly Care · Project commissioning · Publishing · Workforce · Emotional Labor in Professions · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Workplace Health and Well-being