New joint ageing committee

A revamped aged care industry advisory committee is meeting this morning in Canberra to improve consultation between the sector, workforce and consumers.

The new Ageing Consultative Committee brings together the former Aged Care Advisory Committee and the Community Care Advisory Committee.

Aged and Community Services Australia CEO cautiously welcomed the new committee, saying he would make sure community care maintains a place on the agenda.

“There is some merit in taking a coordinated approach across spectrum but we have generally found in our experience that giving community care its own space tends to avoid it being overshadowed by residential care,” said Mr Mundy.

“There are a number of people around the table at this meeting take steps to ensure that doesn’t occur.”

A statement from the department said the committee will focus primarily on efficiency in the bed allocation process, the review of aged care planning ratios, proposed changes to the regulatory framework and the better integration of community and residential care.

“The establishment of the [committee] along with changes to other advisory groups will help ensure stakeholders can provide me with relevant advice regarding the Government’s new aged care direction,” said the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot.

“The Government wants to hear the views of the aged care industry, consumers and the dedicated workforce in our nation’s 2,870 nursing homes.”

Click here to see a full list of the committee’s member organisations.