Consumers speak up

National Seniors is now running its own, free consumer forums to garner community opinion on how the federal government should respond to the PC report.

Above: CEO of National Seniors Australia, Michael O’Neill

By Yasmin Noone

One of the sector’s largest non-profit consumer advocacy groups, National Seniors Australia, will run a series of independent and free consumer forums around the country during November to garner community opinion on the Productivity Commission’s (PC) aged care reform recommendations.

The National Seniors forums, that began yesterday and run until Wednesday 30 November, aim to provide consumers with an opportunity to have their say on how the federal government should respond to the PC’s suggestions and what it should do to shape the future of older Australians.

The forums are in addition to but independent of the consumer conversations, currently being conducted by the federal government in partnership with Council on the Ageing (COTA) and Alzheimer’s Australia.

CEO of National Seniors Australia, Michael O’Neill, said he felt it was essential to hold a specific set of consumer consultations, separate to that which is government initiated.

“These forums are funded by National Seniors, not the government,” Mr O’Neill said.

“They are totally consumer-driven…And being completely funded by a consumer group is an important and it means the forums will have a distinctive tone.

He stressed that although the consumer conversation, attended by the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, and those organised by provider groups are “important for us to have” but Mr O’Neill believes it was equally as important to ensure there are also purely “consumer-driven opportunities for people to have a say”.

“What is proposed by the PC and the questions the government has to decide on go to the very heart of aged care in this country – not just for the immediate four or five years but for a decade or more ahead.

“So it’s a really opportune time for those directly or indirectly exposed to the aged care system to have a say….and it’s a really good opportunity or a good example for people at the grass roots to have a say about the issues that will impact upon them for the future.

Mr O’Neill predicts there will be a few main, broad consumer issues raised during the forums about the quality and level of care provided; staffing levels; meeting aged care standards; financial arrangements to pay for care; and deregulating the aged care system.

This year, the research arm of the organisation will also conduct a member survey on a range of key consumer issues, to “test the water of a couple of the key considerations the PC has put forward”.
 
Once the survey results are compiled they will be added to consumer feedback derived from the forums and together, will form the National Seniors response to the PC report, to be provided to government at a later date.

“Reform is necessary in the aged care area. This is an opportunity to have a say about the kind of reforms needed. So get involved on the ground floor about the issues and have a say on what will impact on you and you loved ones for over a decade or more.

“Have your say now.”

National Seniors Australia’s forum details

Below are a list of the remaining forums, yet to be run by National Seniors. Refreshments will be provided at each of the events. To register your interest, phone or email the contacts below.

Brisbane, QLD
9.30 for 10am to 12 noon
Wednesday 23 November
The Irish Club, 175 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane.
RSVP: Ring Rebecca on 07 3233 9145 or email qldforum@nationalseniors.com.au

Bunbury, WA
9.30 for 10am to 12 noon
Monday 28 November
RSL Hall, 19 Spencer Street, Bunbury
RSVP: Phone Jan on 08 9420 7274 or email bunburyforum@nationalseniors.com.au

Perth, WA
9.30 for 10am to 12 noon
Tuesday 29 November
Cannington Bowling Club, Cnr Fleming Avenue/George Street West, Cannington
RSVP: Call Jan on 08 9420 7274 or email perthforum@nationalseniors.com.au

Ringwood, Melbourne
5.30 for 6pm to 8pm
Wednesday 30 November
Karralyka Centre, Mines Road, Ringwood East
RSVP: Call Margaret on 03 9650 6144 or email melbourneforum@nationalseniors.com.au

Tags: consumer-conversations, consumers, cota, federalgovernment, mark-butler, michael-oneill, minister-for-mental-health-and-ageing, national-seniors, pc, productivity-commission,

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