PRESS
RELEASE
5 December
2005
Rural
Women New Zealand calls for extreme makeover of
homecare sector
Rural
Women New Zealand says a total revamp of the home
care industry is required, following its presentation
of an 18,000 signature Petition to Parliament on
Friday calling for the reimbursement of travel costs
for home care workers.
President
Sherrill Dackers told the rally that the lack of
reimbursement of travel costs was at the heart of
the home care sector's woes, particularly in rural
areas.
"Workers
are leaving the job in droves," she said. A 2004
Ministry of Health study showed a staff turnover
rate of 39% per annum, although anecdotally this
is now thought to have risen to 50%.
Ms
Dackers said "Our petition today is a call for justice.
We are urging Parliament to take urgent action to
guarantee the provision of home-based care services
for rural communities."
" Moves by the
previous Government to increase funding by $15.5
million is not enough. This apparently generous
move is totally insufficient to meet travel costs
of homecare workers, particularly in rural areas."
Because
workers are not paid as they drive between clients,
rural caregivers may work up to 70 hours a week
to receive 40 hours pay and must pay their vehicle
expenses and petrol costs out of this. There are
20,000 home care workers around the country, 95%
of whom are women. Workers are paid between $10.50
and $11.50 an hour.
The
delegation from Rural Women New Zealand arrived
at Parliament in a 1929 Studebaker car, dressed
in furs, hats and gloves, representing the women
of the Women's Division of the NZ Farmers Union
who first called on the Government to pay the travel
costs of its bush nurse and housekeeping scheme,
the forerunner of today's home healthcare scheme.
Sherrill
Dackers said it
is a tragedy because even after 77 years of this
problem being brought to Government's attention
Rural Women New Zealand must once again address
the matter.
Ends
For
further information contact:
Sherrill
Dackers
President
Rural
Women New Zealand
021
32 32 10
Or
Jackie
Edkins
Communications
Officer
Rural
Women New Zealand
(04)
473 5524
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