It’s your turn to speak: the PC is listening
The PC’s public hearings have begun. ACCV was the first aged care peak body to present its draft report refinements to the commissioners.
By Yasmin Noone
The Productivity Commission (PC) has spoken and now it is the sector’s turn to talk, with public hearings in response to its draft Caring for Older Australians report currently underway.
The commissioners, on day three of their travels around the country, heard from Aged and Community Care Victoria (ACCV) – the first aged care peak body to present a verbal submission – in Melbourne yesterday.
CEO of ACCV, Gerard Mansour, presented on behalf of the organisation, stating that although the direction of the draft’s reform agenda is supported, refinements are needed.
According to Mr Mansour it is imperitive that the final report gets the transition phasing to a market-based system right; addresses gaps in the market model and ensures that proposed pricing studies actually reflect the skill levels required to deliver the care and support, which consumers will both need and want.
He also advocated that the final report must include measures which ensure that the “Gateway” does not end up with problems of capacity; is adequately resourced; and is accessible to older people in rural and remote communities.
The PC also heard that it should strengthen recommendations regarding funding models which need to be in place for various special needs groups such as mental health, disability and homelessness, as well as rural and remote locations where a market model framework is not appropriate.
Most importantly, Mr Mansour said, there is a need for robust modeling of the key assumptions proposed by the PC in the overall architecture of the new system. The PC welcomed the prospect of receiving independent financial modeling around the transition to a market-based system from ACCV in the near future.
“We are very pleased that the PC have welcomed the opportunity to have that conversation,” Mr Mansour said.
“What the PC has done until now is to very openly and robustly test their thinking and ideas.
“The commission is genuinely consulting the sector and getting feedback.
“I am hopeful that [after the final report is released] we will be able to the say to the government, this is the package…and this package is in the right direction.”
ACCV’s verbal PC submission focused on areas directly affecting Victoria, and supported and endorsed the written submission of the national peak bodies, Aged Care Services Australia and Aged Care Association Australia.
Life, post-PC
Ideally, ACCV would like the government to work in partnership with the sector to create and implement reform, once the PC’s final report is released in June.
This sort of collaborative approach is needed, Mr Mansour said, because although the government creates change from above, it is providers that implement change from below.
But, despite the efforts of the PC and aged care stakeholders to suggest what should happen, there is no guarantee that the government will adopt any of the recommendations of the final report, pass any type of reform, or work collaboratively with the sector.
“It’s a political imperative that there is action and it is imperative that none of the parties decide to play party politics,” he said.
“Everyone understands that aged care reform is essential. It’s time for the parliament to work as a parliament…
“This is not the issue to play party politics over. What’s at stake is the care of older Australians.
“What I said to the commission today…was about what the commission has done very appropriately. They’ve built a table [of reform] which has four legs- you can’t pull one off.
“This is a package, not a selection menu…They are the four pillars and you can’t just pluck one out.”
