According to the aid organization, the federal government’s third care package, including an amendment to the professional law, should be viewed positively despite remaining challenges
Vienna (OTS) – „The measures taken as part of the federal government’s third care package can be viewed as positive overall, even if we are still faced with major challenges in the care sector
“, says Elisabeth Anselm, Managing Director of the Austrian Relief Organization. With around 6,000 nursing and support staff, the aid organization is one of the country’s leading nursing organizations and has been committed to improving the framework conditions for nursing and care in Austria for many years. According to the aid organization, the amendment to the Health and Nursing Act passed in the National Council on Thursday brings significant progress in practice.
“Overall, more things have progressed in recent years than in decades, but that shouldn’t blind us to the fact that the topic of care is here to stay,” says Anselm. “Every party campaigning for the election must be able to present strategies for care and support. An adequate examination of sustainable supply concepts as well as the recruitment and retention of staff must not only be the core of the election programs, but especially of the next government program
Anselm is convinced.
Relevant improvement for work in nursing and care
Die Amendment to the Health and Nursing Act, which was only decided in the National Council on Thursday, brings specific expansions of skills for relevant professional groups and new opportunities for specialists, for example in the area of initial and further prescription of medical devices and selected medicines by qualified nursing specialists. “The new regulations reflect the real situation much better and are a decisive step towards modern professional law,” says Anselm.
Also the innovations in the area of standards and competencies Social care professions According to the aid organization, they will bring significant improvements, especially in the area of work of home helpers, who will now be able to work, for example, in measuring blood pressure or administering ear drops. According to the relief organization, lowering the age limit for all social care professions to 18 is also a decisive advantage because young people who are interested have previously been confronted with counterproductive waiting times.
Measures for those interested in switching, skilled workers from abroad and relatives
According to the aid organization, a painful gap has been closed in the area of those switching to the nursing profession: from autumn 2024, training to become a qualified nursing specialist at technical colleges will now also be attractive Nursing scholarship of the AMS available. Facilitations in the context of the procedures for Professional recognition (Nostrification or nostrification) are also helpful, especially with regard to the possibilities of practicing a profession during the procedures.
“But also caring relatives “We are fortunate to benefit from the federal government’s third care package,” says Anselm. “The conversion of the care bonus to a monthly payment and the establishment of a corresponding valorization is a major step forward for those affected,” states Anselm. The same would apply to the award of financial support for substitute care, which is now planned from day one, as well as the expansion of the circle of recipients to include life partners, foster parents or aunts and uncles.
Questions & Contact:
Relief organization Austria
Stomach. Barbara Tober
T: +43 1 4057500222 | M: +43 676 878760207
barbara.tober@hilfswerk.at | www.hilfswerk.at/oesterreich