Care Economy

Employing over 15 per cent of the workforce, the care economy is one of Australia’s largest industries and most substantial employers. Providing care and support across health, aged care, disability support, veterans’ services, shelter and early childhood education, organisations across the sector, provide Australia with essential social outcomes and care productivity. 

Australia’s social policy settings have increasingly favoured denationalisation and community-based services, leaving providers responsible for ensuring that the more than $100 billion government investment is effective. This investment is projected to grow by 25 per cent over the next five years to ensure that those supported by the sector continue to receive adequate care but will bring with it ongoing changes to the regulatory environment.

An ageing population, increasing community expectations, the need to ensure the preservation of dignity through enhanced choice and control, and significant industrial pressures, sees a heavy dependence on a system simultaneously under pressure and undergoing substantial transformation. This growth in need is occurring amid a backdrop of heightened regulation and the requirement to curtail expenditure to ensure the long-term sustainability of government funding. 

Orchard, since its inception, have shown steadfast commitment to supporting providers across the care economy to improve their strategic, commercial and service delivery outcomes. We’ve supported organisations through unprecedented change through linking public expectation and policy to a position of workforce understanding. We have worked with over 100 organisations in the sector to achieve leadership results because they matter – 8 million Australian’s rely on the sector every day for a better life. 

Our expert team bring a wealth of experience in policy, service delivery and talent management – we can provide a voice of surety and deep levels of insight into the industrial environment and what helps our partners succeed.