One of Queensland’s biggest non-government employers has sacked hundreds of workers amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Health service provider UnitingCare will lose about 340 employees.
The ABC understands most of the job losses will be from its BlueCare service, which provides residential aged care, respite care, and nursing services to people in their own homes.
The church-aligned organisation said the cuts equate to just two per cent of its workforce, employing more than 17,000 workers and thousands of volunteers.
Other UnitingCare services include the running of four private hospitals – the Wesley, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital in Hervey Bay, and Buderim Private Hospital on the Sunshine Coast.
It also operates Lifeline in Queensland.
UnitingCare chief executive Craig Barke said the cost of delivering critical services to people in need had increased more quickly “than the funding provided to us for the delivery [of] these services”.
Financial documents show UnitingCare Queensland posted a “total comprehensive loss” of about $54 million in 2023.
“Some difficult but important measures have to be taken in some areas to maintain services, while being prudent with the resources entrusted to UnitingCare,” Mr Barke said in a statement.
“We are consulting with our unions who represent impacted groups to ensure fairness and transparency and are firmly committed to our organisational values in supporting our employees throughout this transition.”
The company’s values include compassion, respect, justice, leading through learning, and working together.
Mr Barke warned BlueCare clients to expect delays when contacting its customer service centre.
“Changes to the call centre have been carefully considered to minimise any disruptions experienced by customers, however there will be some disruptions while adjustments are being made internally and this will be continually monitored,” he said.
“For those BlueCare customers who have experienced difficulties reaching our call centres, we recognise this is frustrating for our clients, we are putting additional measures in place.”
Mr Barke said the job losses were “part of a program to ensure the organisation’s financial sustainability in the face of rising costs associated with new funding arrangements and regulations, combined with ongoing skills shortages impacting frontline services”.
New figures released today showed Australia’s economy was losing steam, which analysts said could put pressure on the labour market.