A $1.2 billion workforce compact between government, providers and unions hopes to turn around the poor wages and working conditions in Australian aged care. By Darragh O Keeffe and Natasha Egan.

The federal government's aged care reforms are a victory for low-paid nursing and care staff, nursing unions have said. The government recently revealed its $3.7 billion overhaul of the current aged care system, which will increase community care options, provide financial support to people living with dementia, and seek to address the issues of quality and access to care. However, a key plank of the government's Living Longer. Living Better plan includes measures to address the poor wages and working conditions facing nurses and workers in aged care. The reforms, a long awaited response to...