The community can have its say on the Terms of Reference of the Royal Commission into the Aged Care Sector with an online feedback tool now available.
This Royal Commission will primarily look at the quality of care provided in Residential and Home Aged Care to senior Australians, but also include young Australians with disabilities living in Residential Aged Care settings.
The final Terms of Reference will be determined in consultation with the community, including residents and their families and aged care providers. We expect that it will cover:
- The quality of care provided to older Australians, and the extent of substandard care;
- The challenge of providing care to Australians with disabilities living in residential aged care, particularly younger people with disabilities;
- The challenge of supporting the increasing number of Australians suffering dementia and addressing their care needs as they age;
- The future challenges and opportunities for delivering aged care services in the context of changing demographics, including in remote, rural and regional Australia;
- Any other matters that the Royal Commission considers necessary.
All members of the community will be now be able to have their say on the Terms of Reference on the Department of Health’s website at consultations.health.gov.au/ or they are welcome to write to Minister Hunt and Minister Wyatt.
Consultations on the Terms of Reference will be open until 25 September. The Commission itself will take public submissions once it has commenced.
The Prime Minister and Minster Wyatt met with the Aged Care Sector Committee today and thanked them for their ongoing contributions.
Next week, Minister Wyatt will commence consultation with a wide variety of groups including community, families, relatives, advocates, sector participants including staff and operators, and health care professionals.
Minister Hunt will also consult with the medical community on the Royal Commission’s Terms of Reference.
The Government’s commitment to safe, quality, compassionate, flexible and affordable aged care services for our senior Australians is absolute.
We acknowledge the reporting and concerns raised by the public which has informed the Ministers views to proceed with a Royal Commission.
Incidences of older people being hurt by failures of care simply cannot be explained or excused. We must be assured about how widespread these cases are.
As a community we expect high standards for the quality and safety of aged care services and we share these expectations.
This Royal Commission will be about proactively determining what we need to do in the future to ensure these expectations can be met.
Evidence to date shows that the problems are not restricted to any one part of the aged care sector, whether it is for profit or not for profit, large or small facilities, regional or major metropolitan. The Royal Commission will look at the sector as a whole, without bias or prejudice. It will make findings on the evidence.
If you or a family member have immediate concerns please contact the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner on 1800 550 552 or you can lodge a complaint online. Complaints can be made completely anonymously.
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