New initiative aims to accelerate aged care innovation

A national innovation network for Australia’s aged care industry has been launched this week.

A national innovation network for Australia’s aged care industry has been launched this week by Leading Age Services Australia CEO Sean Rooney.

Called innovAGEING, the network is open to all aged care stakeholders and aims to facilitate a connected community of practice for the sector’s progressive thinkers and practitioners.

Mr Rooney announced the new initiative at LASA’s National Congress on the Gold Coast on Monday.

“LASA believes that a national scale, collaborative approach to age services innovation is urgently needed as our industry responds to reform challenges, market opportunities, new technologies and changing consumer preferences,” Mr Rooney said.

Participation in the network is open to all aged care providers, suppliers of products and services to the industry, relevant university centres and researchers, consumer groups and interested public sector agencies and investors, he said.

In addition to establishing a community of practice, the network is also designed to create and share examples of Australian aged care service innovation within the industry and across the wider community as well as celebrate, highlight and elevate innovation through a national awards program.

Mr Rooney said discussions were underway with potential partners to align with the Government’s innovation agenda and aged care sector reform initiatives.

“The aged care industry strives to be high performing and consumer-centric with a variety of products, services and delivery models that will meet the individual needs of older Australians and their families,” Mr Rooney said.

“The innovAGEING network will help ensure that this future is achievable.”

Mr Rooney said the sector needed to accelerate innovation and collaboration to translate ideas into action and achieve better outcomes for older Australians.

“Embracing innovation in aged care will further enable older Australians to retain their independence, giving them choice and control over the care, support and services they need and deserve.”

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Tags: innovation, lasa, lasa 2017, leading-age-services-australia, Sean Rooney,

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