The New England region in NSW has become the latest focus of the Australia Nursing Federation’s (ANF)  national "Because We Care" campaign, the goal of which is to improve the under-resourced aged care sector. In conjunction with the ANF's campaign, nurses, assistants in nurses (AINs) and residents living in aged care facilities throughout the area have called on Independent MP Tony Windsor to address funding shortages in the local aged care sector.

"The demand for nurses and AINs is at an all-time high, but unfortunately the aged care sector is desperately under-resourced and under-funded," says ANF federal secretary Lee Thomas. "But the massive shortage of aged care nurses is no surprise, considering nurses in aged care are paid significantly less than nurses working in public hospitals – making between $168 and $300 on average less per week."

Ms. Thomas has reiterated the ANF's call on the federal government to pour $500 million into the aged care sector in the upcoming budget, in order to close the wages gap and improve the delivery and quality of care provided to elderly Australians.

Aged care staff in Tamworth have set up a stall at Northgate Shopping Centre to hand out leaflets to the public and to get people to sign a petition that will be delivered to Mr. Windsor.

"Unless the government closes the wages gap, there will be no workforce left to care for the increasing number of elderly Australians in nursing homes, particularly in regional areas like New England," says Ms. Thomas.