The Latest Breaking News from Carolyn Smith

More than 60 per cent of early childhood educators plan to leave the sector within three years as mounting staff turnover continues to plague the industry.

The Northern Territory is set to get 60 new aged-care beds, but advocates say it will not meet the growing demand.

Aged care providers warn of rising COVID-19 outbreaks in the sector, with active cases now numbering more than 9,500 among residents and staff.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has contracted COVID-19 and will remain in isolation until after Saturday's federal election.

Analysis shows more than 1,400 deaths reported by providers so far in 2022, dwarfing the first two years of pandemic

Hundreds of aged care workers in Queensland and Western Australia walk off the job in a stand for better pay and work conditions, but South Australian aged care staff remained diligently at work after the Fair Work Commission put off their strike until the day after the federal election.

More than 6,500 reports of distressed and neglected residents and unsafe conditions the ‘tip of the iceberg’, union says

Union says vote overwhelmingly supports action that could include strikes and is likely to occur before federal election

Federal opposition says it will pay any increase ordered by Fair Work Commission but Coalition has stopped short of such a guarantee