Support worker: Mileage rate increase not enough

Home and community support workers face a financial crisis as rising fuel prices and inadequate mileage reimbursement rates force them to effectively pay to work. Despite a temporary 30% increase in government reimbursement, the rates remain significantly below IRD recommendations and fail to cover basic vehicle maintenance or the soaring cost of petrol, which has approached $4 a litre. A day in the life of Helen, a veteran support worker, reveals a grueling schedule of back-to-back appointments with no breaks, complicated by inefficient rostering that requires frequent doubling back. Staffing shortages further strain the system, resulting in vulnerable clients with terminal illnesses or mobility needs waiting hours for essential care. While the work provides immense emotional fulfillment, the current funding model is unsustainable, threatening the future of elderly and sick care if workers can no longer afford the transportation required to reach their clients.