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Massive growth in palliative care and aged care jobs

The Business of Health, The Health Industry

Australia’s ageing population means that there has been significant growth in the number of people requiring aged care and palliative care services. This has also led to an increase in the number of jobs in these areas of health care.

Here are some of the Australian statistics for aged care over a recent 10 year period:

  • From June 2002-June 2012, there was a 46% increase in aged care places in both residential facilities and community-based care
  • In June 2012, 253,000 government-subsidized aged care places accounted for $412.9 billion of government funds
  • There has been significant growth in community based care, with the ratio now being one community based care place for every three residential care places, compared with one for every four in 2008
  • In 2012, Indigenous Australians tend to use both residential and community aged care services at a younger age than non-Indigenous Australians.
  • For permanent residents of aged care facilities, 80% of those aged 65 or older were classified as those requiring high level care.

Here are some of the Australian statistics for palliative care over a recent 10 year period:

  • The number of hospital admissions related to palliative care rose by 49% between 2001/2002 and 2010/2011
  • In Australia in 2010/2011 there were around 54,500 palliative care related admissions to hospitals (including both private and public)
  • In 2011-2012, 9,600 patients received a palliative medicine specialist service subsidised through the Medicare Benefits Schedule, and about $3.5 million in benefits were paid
  • There were 30,400 patients who accessed specialist palliative care services in 2012, an increase of 12% from 2011

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