In an encouraging sign for aged care reform, the Government has appointed its 17-member National Aged Care Advisory Council, which will advise and guide its $17.7 billion overhaul of the sector.
The Council will be chaired by former Victorian MP Andrea Coote (centre), inaugural chair of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Advisory Council, who also served on the Aged Care Sector Committee.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said the upcoming reforms were “the most significant ever undertaken by an Australian Government” to improve home and residential care for older Australians.
“This Advisory Council will play a key role in guiding that implementation, alongside a new Council of Elders and an Inspector-General of Aged Care.
“I welcome the appointment of all 17 members to the Advisory Council and I look forward to working alongside them as we ensure our aged care system delivers respect, care and dignity for our senior Australians,” he said.
According to the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Senator Richard Colbeck, the new Council now includes operators with direct industry experience, as well as health and allied health professionals, and IT, finance, and workforce professionals.
“Our intention is to ensure we have strong representation across five consumer groups, including Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse, carers and advocacy groups,” he added.
The other 16 members are:
- Ian Yates AM (Council of Elders Chair) – COTA Australia Chief Executive
- Rachel Argaman – Opal HealthCare CEO
- Michael Baird AO – HammondCare CEO
- Jennene Buckley – aged care consultant and former Feros Care CEO
- Elizabeth Callaghan – Carers Australia CEO
- Andrew Condon – RSL LifeCare Board Chair
- Jill Gallagher AO – Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) CEO
- Emma Hossack – Medical Software Information Association CEO and Australian Digital Health Agency Director
- Dr Sandra Iuliano – Nutritionist and Senior Research Fellow, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne
- Claerwen Little – UnitingCare Australia National Director
- Libby Lyons – Aged Care Workforce Industry Council (ACWIC) Chair
- Maree McCabe AM – Dementia Australia CEO
- Gail Mulcair – Speech Pathology Australia CEO
- Prof. Michael Murray – National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) Board President and Continence Foundation of Australia National President
- Mary Patetsos – ACH Group Chair
- Graeme Prior – Hall & Prior CEO
Membership of the Council of Elders – which will represent older Australians and be chaired by Ian Yates AM – will be announced later this year.
