RC calls for submissions on COVID-19 impact

The aged care royal commissioners are calling for submissions from organisations and individuals about the impact of the coronavirus on the sector.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety announced this week it was interested in hearing the views of all people directly affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aged care services.  

Royal commissioners Tony Pagone and Lynelle Briggs are keen to receive submissions from aged care service providers and people working in aged care as well as aged care recipients and their families and advocates.

“The Commissioners understand, however, that some of these people and organisations may not yet be in a position to make a submission, because they are dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 upon the delivery of aged care services,” according to the statement.

Last month, Mr Pagone urged aged care providers, government and the community to be vigilant about the negative impacts of restrictions designed to protect residents from coronavirus (read more here).

A week earlier the commissioners announced they were suspending all hearings, workshops and sector consultations in response to the pandemic (read more here).

Even though the public-facing work of the commission has been suspended, the royal commission has continued with its research-related work.

The research covers a range of topics including:

• the funding and financing of the aged care sector
• public attitudes towards the aged and aged care in Australia
• public attitudes to aged care funding
• the financial viability of the sector.

The royal commissioner is planning to release this research to the public in the coming months.

The timeframe for the resumption of hearings, workshops and group consultations remains the subject of ongoing review by the commissioners. 

The current 30 June 2020 deadline for submissions is also subject to ongoing review because of the effects of COVID-19.

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