This week the largest aged care operators across Australia are receiving letters from the Commissioners Joseph McGrath and Lynelle Briggs inviting providers to make an early submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety before it begins hearings in February 2019.
Smaller operators will receive their request from next week.
It’s the first major step for the inquiry – and one that will likely see more cases of abuse and neglect emerging.
These need to be acknowledged – there are residents and families who have been let down by the system and their stories deserve to be shared.
Getting ahead of the issues
However, the focus needs to be on being proactive.
As Prime Minister Scott Morrison said when he announced the Commission: “What matters most is fixing and getting ahead of the problems.”
While the Commissioners are looking for particular cases, this is not about pointing the finger.
Instead they say they want to work out what issues need to be further investigated – and guide their direction when it comes to future policy.
The letter also asks providers what they think needs to change in the sector – and ideas on how to make this happen.
This is good news – especially as the Government has made it clear it is likely to implement many of the Commission’s recommendations, unlike many of the recommendations made by previous Government inquiries.
Staff being sworn at
It’s also critical to restoring the trust of the community in the sector – and its people.
Since the Commission was announced, we have been hearing stories of aged care staff being verbally abused while wearing their uniforms and even being spat on in the street.
“People think that the wrong things are happening everywhere and it’s simply not true,” one facility manager said.
Yes, there are a small number of staff who have been involved in these incidents.
But we also have over 360,000 aged care workers across the country who are doing the best to care for our mums and dads – they should be valued for the important work they do every day.
We need to remind ourselves of this as the Commission gets underway. All of us – families, workers, providers and the community – are committed to ensuring better care and safety for our loved ones and we will all benefit from this spotlight being shone on the sector.
