I thank Ms Andrea Kelly for her service as Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner, and acknowledge her decision to step down from the role at the end of her period of secondment.
Andrea has set the standard for what this Commissioner role can be. From the outset, she has visited communities across the country, sat down with Elders, families, carers and providers, and listened. That depth of consultation, and the trust she has built with First Nations communities in every part of Australia, has shaped the foundations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care reform in this country.
Her report, Transforming Aged Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, is a landmark piece of work. It is deeply informed and grounded in the voices of the people it is written for. It will guide this Government's work for years to come, and it stands as a lasting contribution to the lives of older First Nations Australians. The Government is actively progressing a response to this critical report.
Andrea brought to this role exactly what it needed: rigour, cultural authority, and an unwavering focus on the people at the centre of the system. Our Government's aged care reform is stronger for her work, and so is the sector.
I wish Andrea every success in what comes next, and I look forward to continuing to work with the community to establish a Permanent Commissioner.
