Australia's shortage of aged care workers is four times larger than previously thought because the federal government bungled its long-term forecasts.
Despite a series of pay rises, Labor's own figures show an extra 35,000 aged care workers are needed this financial year alone, as Australia's population gets older and more people require support.
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A departmental memo obtained by AAP under freedom of information laws shows nearly 120,000 more staff will be needed by 2035/36, including nurses, nurse practitioners and personal care workers.
The government has also released data showing some green shoots in the sector, with blown-out waitlists for care beginning to come down.
Over the past few months, 25,000 older Australians have moved off waitlists and into care, partly due to the fast-tracking of more home care packages.
