We’re ready, says Minister
The Minister for Ageing says Australia is ready to benefit from population ageing despite steep rises in projected aged care costs.
Within 40 years, the proportion of Australia’s GDP spent on ageing issues will jump from 3 to 9 per cent.
Over the same period, the amount of money spend on aged care will increase from 0.8 to 2 per cent of GDP.
But The Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot says the nation is ready to benefit from the opportunities posed by the ageing of the population.
Speaking at a conference of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), Mrs Elliot outlined a five-prong plan for aged care.
The reform agenda includes a review of the aged care planning and allocation process, funding provisions, quality of care and protection for residents, an expansion of community care and building the aged care workforce.
Addressing the workforce challenge, the Minister reiterated her commitment to reviewing staffing levels in residential aged care.
“Since this will affect approved providers, residents, their families, unions and staff, we want to talk to all those groups,” she said.
Mrs Elliot added that older Australians still have much to offer the broader community.
“They are still going strong – and older, fitter Australians are continuing to contribute to the community and the economy by staying in the paid workforce or volunteering in the community way beyond what was imaginable 20 years ago,” she said.