The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation is calling on the Federal Government to introduce mandatory staff-to-resident ratios to address a staffing shortage crisis.

Annie Butler, acting Federal Secretary of the Nursing and Midwifery Federation, tells Michael McLaren the problem is simple.

“There just aren’t enough of them.”

Ms Butler says one nurse in Queensland was expected to manage the care of 115 residents.

“It’s just not possible.”

She also stresses more respect needs to be shown to aging Australians.

“For too long our elderly have been put away.

“People just don’t have respect for them that they deserve.

“They built this prosperous nation.”

Listen to the full interview below