The new chairman of Aged and Community Services Western Australia (ACSWA) says the current aged care system is “fatally flawed”.

Ray Glickman from Amana Living was voted into the position at a board meeting earlier this week.

Mr Glickman has been a prominent campaigner for the sector and played a prominent role in ACSWA’s Workforce action Review (WAR).

He said he felt honoured to be heading the association’s board at a time when many urgent and challenging issues were affecting the state’s aged care sector and older citizens.

“ACSWA is a tremendous advocate for the needs of older Western Australians as much as it is for its membership, which comprises over 100 aged and community care providers,” said Mr Glickman.

“My focus will be to continue this work while also engaging the baby boomer generation in planning and advocating for their own future.”

“To put it bluntly, the current system of aged care is fatally flawed in that it is underfunded but over-regulated and it needs radical reform if it is to meet the needs of a rapidly growing and changing aged demographic.”

Mr Glickman is a well recognised leader. While he was CEO of the City of Fremantle, the council won the Alcoa Leadership Award for the best local government in Western Austrlia.

He has also led Amana Living to win two national aged care awards in the past 12 months.

Mr Glickman holds masters degrees in business, applied social studies and psychology and philosophy. 

The CEO of ACSWA, Stephen Kobelke welcomed Mr Glickman’s election, saying he was held in high regard throughout the industry.

“Ray’s passion for the aged care sector, coupled with his skills and experience in local government…will be a real asset in his new role and ACSWA is delighted to welcome him as chairman,” he said.

“Aged care in Western Australia is facing tough issues such as an ageing population and workforce, inadequate government funding, and unique additional factors which affect our rural and remote providers.