The news headline “Chaffey Aged Care unable to pay staff” was nothing more than an attention grabber for them, but their story has caused unnecessary anxiety to the residents who call the facility home, the staff, volunteers and support workers who freely give their time to raise funds for our community not-for-profit organisation.

For the record, I am an employee of the facility and have received my pay each and every fortnight.

Our residents are cared for by a mix of registered nurse and personal care attendants, all of whom are qualified as required by the Aged Care Standards, so the inference in the story that residents are cared for by anything less is utter rubbish.

Chaffey Aged Care is not going broke as rumour sparked by the story suggest.

We have been in operation for just two years and as with any new business there are huge set-up costs.

No amount of forethought and business planning could have anticipated the global financial crisis and its effect on interest revenue either.

An enterprise bargaining agreement is being negotiated at the facility and to push their case the union has taken the issue to the media – fine, but truth shouldn’t go astray.

Aged care workers are, like childcare workers and other carers who look after the most precious and vulnerable in our community, underpaid.

We have fantastic staff who deserve more, but we are paid in accordance with an award and we agree to our pay rate and conditions when we sign an employment contract.

The pay increases demanded by the ANF have been offered for a period of 12 months.

This offer has been rejected by the union, and management is reluctant to commit to a further three years until the financial position of the facility stabilises, which I think is good business sense.

Even the claim for the minimum wage increase was rejected by the Industrial Relations Commission this year due to the potential for economic hardship.