2011: The year of promise
Will 2011 be the year that the government acts to reform the sector, following the Productivity Commission’s report into aged care? ACSA encourages providers to keep the pressure on.
A new year has brought with it a new, stronger call from the sector to the government, to make 2011 the year that real consultation takes place and real aged care reform gets delivered.
Aged and Community Services Australia’s (ACSA) newly appointed acting CEO, Pat Sparrow, begun 2011 with a message to Minister Butler- the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into aged care is great but action is much better.
“There’s been so many reports into aged care which have all provided ways forward but we haven’t had any action,” said Ms Sparrow.
“…The industry is expecting the government to act and give us aged care services for the future.”
Branding 2011 as a “critical year, full of promise,” Ms Sparrow stressed the need for the government to continue to work together with providers.
“We really need them to work in partnership with us and deliver reforms…The crux of this partnership will be real conversation that works through the issues.
“The Minister [for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler,] has indicated that he wants to work with all key stakeholders but there is consultation and there is consultation.
“It has to be about talking the issues through and working out how they can be implemented- not just a nice chat about them.”
A productive working partnership, Ms Sparrow said, will entail a government that listens as well as talks and addresses the issues as the industry sees fit.
“Providers have a lot of insight into the issues on the ground. One of the things we have to make sure is that [future] policy will not only sound wonderful but that it will provide details of what the reforms will mean on the ground.”
ACSA’s reform wishlist includes more funding, more choice for consumers, improved access to care, and a more sustainable aged care system.
“It’s not a time to be complacent. We have to keep on and on and be very focused around raising the issues and representing the industry.
“Providers need to take heart. It’s been hard for the industry…Just keep on doing the extraordinary job that you do with older Australians every day.
“Keep keeping on with us to get this message across to the government, the community and parliament so that they really understand what we are talking about and the impact that [aged care] has on people’s lives.”
