Peaks unite to ‘take stock’ of aged care representation

The Australian Aged Care Collaboration and Aged Care Reform Network have joined forces to evaluate the best model for aged care sector representation and collaboration.

A coalition of aged care provider peak bodies and a group large providers have banded together to determine the best model for aged care sector development and representation.

The Australian Aged Care Collaboration, a coalition of six aged care peak bodies, and the Aged Care Reform Network, a new group of seven large profit and not-for-profit aged care organisations, have formed a steering committee in response to the findings of the aged care royal commission.

The committee has appointed consultants KPMG Australia to undertake a comprehensive and independent analysis of the best practice representation models as well as opportunities to develop member services.

Steering Committee chair John Watkins said the initiative responded to the recent two-year inquiry.

“It was prompted by the royal commission and by the need for our sector to be more responsive to government and to the wider community so that we can serve older Australians better,” Mr Watkins told Australian Ageing Agenda.

“The aged care sector is one of the largest employers in this country. There is around $21 billion of funds at stake and each year. We care for hundreds of thousands of older Australians. It is both right and fitting that we take stock and see if we are doing the best possible job of serving our older Australians,” he said.

John Watkins

Mr Watkins said he hoped to see a thorough analysis of what best practice industry representation is both domestically and internationally from KPMG.

“KPMG’s report will identify how similar sectors are representing themselves and see if that matches our sector’s requirements and current practices. KPMG’s report will then present the options going forward.

“Ultimately it is about finding the best model to enable us to continue to deliver the best possible care our older Australians,” he said.

“Whatever model it recommends it needs to deliver on our core purpose, which is to make a positive difference to older people’s lives across Australia,” Mr Watkins said.

KPMG national sector leader for health, ageing and human services Kerry McGough said the organisation was delighted to take on such an important task for the aged care sector. 

“Our goal is to research best practice and see how that can be applied to the aged care sector. We will be consulting across the industry and key stakeholders to gauge their views,” Ms McGough said in a statement.

The steering committee is due to report the findings to their respective boards by the end of the year.

The Aged Care Collaboration includes Aged and Community Services Australia, Leading Aged Care Services Australia, Anglicare Australia, Baptist Care Australia, Catholic Health Australia and UnitingCare Australia.  

The Aged Care Reform Network, which was established on 12 August, includes Allity, Bolton Clarke, Estia, HammondCare, Regis Aged Care, Opal Healthcare and Uniting NSW ACT.

Steering committee members

The steering committee includes nominees from the provider peak bodies and Aged Care Reform Network providers not represented by a peak.

The members are:

  • John Watkins, chair of Catholic Health Australia
  • Mike Baird, CEO of HammondCare, an Aged and Community Services Australia member
  • Mark Sewell, CEO of Warrigal, an ACSA member
  • Nick Loudon, CEO Envigor, a Leading Age Services Australia member
  • Kerri Rivett, CEO Royal Freemasons, a LASA member
  • Russell Bricknell, chair of Baptist Care Australia
  • Tracey Burton, chief executive of Uniting NSW ACT
  • Grant Millard, director of Anglicare Australia
  • Tomas Chubb, CEO of Allity, an Aged Care Reform Network member

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Tags: aged care reform network, Australian Aged Care Collaboration, featured, john watkins, kerry mcgough, kpmg australia,

2 thoughts on “Peaks unite to ‘take stock’ of aged care representation

  1. Wow! Organise a steering group of 9 leaders (only two of whom are women), employ a business management consulting company (no doubt at considerable cost), give it four months to “undertake a comprehensive and independent analysis of the best practice representation models as well as opportunities to develop member services”, expect this process to “make a positive difference to older people’s lives across Australia,” – what could go wrong!! We can only hope that KPMG consult mental health professionals and providers about wellbeing and overall health.

  2. I agree with Gail… .what could possibly go wrong???
    I hope that the analysis of best practice includes some future imagination. When we use words like ‘best model’ ‘best practice’ ‘best possible care’, I think we miss the possibilities and imaginings for people who are getting older. I hope the consultations will include stakeholders beyond that traditionally conceived such as PACFA for inclusion of counsellors’ views about the aged care space.

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