Aged care’s time to shine
Australia will join the United Kingdom, South Africa and Malta when it opens the doors of its aged care facilities on 20 June as part of a growing international initiative to showcase the great work being done in aged care.

The countdown is on.
In just 43 days’ time Australia will join the United Kingdom, South Africa and Malta when it opens the doors of its aged care facilities on 20 June as part of a growing international initiative to showcase the great work being done in aged care.
The organisers of the event in Australia, Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) and the Aged Care Channel (ACC), are producing resources, as well as two special broadcasts on the ACC, to help facilities take part in the initiative.
Already, aged care providers from across Australia have begun registering with the initiative’s website and among the many events planned are garden parties, morning teas, BBQs, musical performances, sausage sizzles, guided tours, visits from local high schools, art exhibitions, a masked ball, market stalls and garage sales.
Organisers say the event is a unique opportunity for aged care facilities to open their doors to their local communities, make contacts with their local media and public representatives, and ultimately strengthen their reputation.
In the UK, where the open day initiative began last year, the sector was overwhelmed by the positive response, with 3,000 care homes taking part, according to Andrew Ricker, director of the ACC.
Mr Ricker said the ACC was keen to help extend the initiative from the UK to Australia, as the channel operates in both countries.
“What really attracted us is the global potential for this initiative,” Mr Ricker told Australian Ageing Agenda. “Really it’s about pulling the sector together. Because the channel has the privilege of working in the UK and Australia we have come to see that there is not a lot of difference between what we do and what good quality care looks like. So, it’s time for the sectors to come together and be vocal and proud about that.”
Mr Ricker said through the ACC’s online platform it was running two special broadcasts which would link the sectors in the UK and Australia and support providers as they went about organising their open day activities.
- On 15 May, Des Kelly, CEO of National Care Forum, will be interviewed in the ACC’s London studio, discussing the national open day, as well as unfolding changes to the care sector.
- On 29 May, a second broadcast will outline how providers can get the most out of their open day events. The program will showcase UK care homes which held open days last year. Also on the program, Adjunct Professor John Kelly, CEO of ACSA will be in the ACC’s Sydney studio discussing the topic ‘Who will pay for your care?’.
Meantime, aged care facilities can access resources, such as sample media releases to send to their local media, on the ACSA National Open Day website. There they will find further details of the event nationally, as well as a full list of facilities that have registered.
Australian Ageing Agenda will feature coverage of some of the best and brightest open day events. To be included in the coverage of the events, send your photos to editorial@australianageingagenda.com.au
The live ACC TV event can be viewed on your computer, iPad or iPhone at 10.30am (AEST) on 29 May. Click here to register
We would like to register for the Open Day on 20th June 2014.
Hi Sesilia,
You can register for the Open Day by clicking on this link http://www.agedcarechannel.com.au/29may/
Thanks,
AAA team.