Founder of an innovative homeshare program in Australia Carmel Hurst has been honoured with an Order of Australia Medal for her outstanding contribution to innovative housing models for older people and those with a disability.
The concept, first introduced in Victoria in 1997, matches older people or people with a disability living in their own homes with compatible young people looking for rent-free accommodation.
As part of the program, the householder provides a room and shared facilities in exchange for approximately 10 hours per week of practical assistance and support around the home such as cooking, cleaning and weekly grocery shopping.
Ms Hurst, who is also the founder of the Homeshare Australia and New Zealand Alliance (HANZA), said the program had been shown to delay admission into residential aged care and offered older people valuable social companionship and facilitated independence.
“The longest match we had lasted eight years,” said Ms Hurst. “The young man was from Singapore and he came to live with a woman while he completed his accountancy course and he was with her until she died. He became a member of the family and he is still in touch with her children.”
Ms Hurst said the pairings not only lead to significant friendships but also intergenerational and cultural learning as many of the young people were students from overseas.
“It’s not about caring. It’s sharing, so both sides win,” she said.
From a small pilot program in 1997, the homeshare model has now expanded to involve 14 organisations across Victoria, ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and WA and has attracted both government and private funding. However, additional homeshare programs are currently seeking funding in Queensland.
Two independent economic evaluations commissioned by Homeshare Victoria concluded the homeshare program delivered significant community benefits and cost savings to the health and aged care systems.
The programs are coordinated by experienced social workers and the careful matching process involves police checks, multiple interviews and ongoing professional monitoring and assessment.
Ms Hurst, a former nurse and aged care consultant, adapted the concept to the Australian context after attending an international conference discussing the benefits of the model overseas. She had also used a similar arrangement informally with her own mother before developing the model into a professional service, which has been used by hundreds of older Australians.
Aged care CEOs recognised
Other recipients of the Australia Day honours included prominent industry leaders Dr Penny Flett, CEO of the Brightwater Group and Klaus Zimmermann, past national president of Aged and Community Services Australia and former CEO of Eldercare.
A former national finalist for Australian of the Year, Dr Flett was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to aged care and geriatric medicine, particularly in Western Australia.
Dr Flett is also Pro-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia and is the current chair of WA Department of Health’s Aged Care Advisory Council. As chair she oversaw the creation of the state’s first Aged Care Plan to guide the development of health and aged care services.
Dr Flett has served with the Royal Australian Air Force and in 1974 became the first woman in peacetime to hold a male rank and the first woman doctor to serve in the RAAF.
Klaus Zimmerman, who served as ACSA president from 2007 to 2011, was appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for his significant contribution to aged care in a variety of management roles. Mr Zimmerman, who retired last year as CEO of Eldercare after 12 years in the position, is also a board member of HESTA Superannuation Fund and Central Adelaide and Hills Medicare Local.
Senior Australian of the Year
Former Minister in the Fraser government and reconciliation advocate Fred Chaney was announced the 2014 Senior Australian of the Year. Mr Chaney was the founding co-chair of Reconciliation Australia and an early advocate for Aboriginal voting rights.
Mr Chaney served for many years as deputy president of the National Native Title Tribunal and, more recently, is chair of Desert Knowledge Australia.
Federal minister responsible for Ageing Mitch Fifield said Mr Chaney exemplified the spirit of the Senior Australian of the Year Award, which celebrates the achievements of older Australians and their ongoing contributions to our community.
“Ms Hurst, who is also the founder of the Homeshare Australia and New Zealand Alliance (HANZA), said the program had been shown to delay admission into residential aged care and offered older people valuable social companionship and facilitated independence.”
Well done!!