Older Australians now have a voice to Parliament through the 14 members of the newly-announced Council of Elders, chaired by Ian Yates AM.
Serving a two-year term, the Council will engage with Government on aspects of aged care including quality, safety, rights, and dignity of older people. It is made up of a range of members with diverse skills and experience:
- Ian Yates AM, CEO of Council of the Ageing Australia, and senior Australians and aged care advocate
- Dr Michael Barbato OAM, rural doctor and palliative care specialist
- Professor Tom Calma AO, health, mental health and Indigenous affairs academic
- Gwenda Darling, dementia advocate
- Val Fell, aged care and dementia advocate
- Gillian Groom AO, occupational therapist and elder law expert
- Danijela Hlis, author and dementia carer
- Bill Jolley, advisor on disability issues and vision loss
- Professor Gill Lewin, health, ageing and aged care researcher
- Professor John McCallum, CEO of National Seniors Australia, ageing policy researcher and activist
- Sue McCann, aged care leader of end to end facility management
- Dr Kay Patterson AO, Age Discrimination Commissioner
- Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM, 2021 Senior Australian of the Year, activist, education leader and artist
- Margaret Walsh OAM, nurse and manager of a disability organisation and an aged care organisation.
Mr Yates (pictured) is excited by the Council of Elders, which was a recommendation from the Royal Commission, and says working with its members will be an honour.
“Having a voice of senior Australians direct to Government will be key to ensure the reforms from the royal commission continue to have the voice of those that experience the system at their centre.
“The first Council of Elders has an appropriately diverse range of experience, background, location and opinions and I look forward to working with the members of the Council to provide this important voice to Ministers and the National Aged Care Advisory Council,” he said.
A great idea – and well overdue.
