Australia should be world-leading in aged care

The Federal Government wants Australia’s aged care to be “world leading, not just getting by”. In order to get there, Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells, has called upon the sector and all individual providers to work together to tackle aspects such as workforce shortage, increased transparency and innovation by bringing practical solutions to the table.

Highlighting that Australians’ expectations of aged care are currently not being met she encouraged collaboration between Government, providers, advocates and older people to “deliver fundamental, tangible and meaningful improvements”. 

“The days of inaction and excuses are over. With your help, we will create lasting change. Together we stand at the threshold of meaningful reform.”

Minister Wells addressed providers at the inaugural Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) National Conference in Adelaide on Wednesday, highlighting her wish for transformative change within aged care that includes input from every single person involved in services for older Australians.

She called on aged care providers to step up and provide their solutions, input and efforts to reform aged care to where it should be.

“We are all here for the same reason, to make aged care at home and in [residential care], a safe place to have a quality of life that older Australians deserve,” said Minister Wells. 

“A place where older people are treated with a high level of dignity. A place where people can trust their mothers and fathers and partners will receive a high level of care. And if we all have this same goal, we can work together to achieve that goal. 

Already, the Government has started rolling out big changes to the sector, including the new funding model for aged care, the draft of the first-ever Code of Conduct up for consultation, a new star rating in place to come into effect later this year, and much more.

With all these big reforms to be implemented or on the horizon, Minister Wells urged providers to meet this challenge together.

Are you ready?

Innovation has been identified as key to transforming the sector and the Government needs this innovation to come from the people who matter in aged care and know how to make meaningful change.

Minister Wells wants providers to look inwardly on whether they are ready to become innovators for quality aged care.

“This is the time to ask yourselves, are you contributing ideas and solutions to the national debate about these challenges or is your contribution merely admiring the scale and complexity of the task ahead?” she said.

She wants aged care providers to reflect on their current movements in the sector and how they are working with other organisations, as working together is the only way forward to overcome this difficult goal to improve aged care.

The Government also wants to rebuild their relationship with aged care organisations so there is more meaningful collaboration from the people who deliver care in Australia, as Minister Wells has heard for too long that there has been a disconnect between providers and the Government.

Workforce is key

With so many changes ahead, providers will need to have a focus on solving workforce shortfalls within their businesses.

Recent reports have estimated that aged care will be short of 100,000 workers by 2027/28. Minister Wells said the sector needs to close the gap to make aged care an “attractive place where people are rewarded for their effort”.

She wants providers to ask themselves if they believe they are doing everything they can to attract the right workers to their workforce.

This includes through offering opportunities, rewards and good workplace culture to potential workers.

Minister Wells said the Government has engaged with a number of aged care providers who are being proactive and constructive in funding solutions for workforce shortages, but wants to see this widely used throughout the sector.

Transparency for providers, but also Government

The aged care sector has entered a new era where transparency is king, and providers will be required to meet new standards under recent Government changes to reporting. 

However, Minister Wells wants to make it clear that while this transparency is important and will hold providers accountable, it will do the same for the Government.

She encouraged the sector to embrace this pivot to a transparent sector, which will improve the current negative perception of the sector.

“There is no reason why finances in aged care cannot be laid bare for older Australians to judge for themselves if they are getting what they paid for,” explained Minister Wells.

The Government are also in the process of reputation building, so these transparency changes will ensure the sector and the public can have confidence that the Government processes and decisions are adequate and meeting older Australians’ needs.

She said the new Independent Pricing Authority is one such way that will improve the trust in the Government and their responses to aged care, as well as its promise to fully fund the outcome of the Fair Work Commission Work Value Case. 

The way forward is together

The Government are ambitious for aged care and the changes needed to deliver an aged care system that cares for older Australians as individuals, through respect, security and compassion.

Minister Wells believes the only way forward is for the Government to work side by side with the aged care sector and its providers to make systemic and beneficial change for all.

Solutions in aged care can only be possible through true partnership, said Minister Wells, and that is not through box-ticking exercises or having loud voices drown out others in the sector when designing and delivering meaningful reform.

“[We want] a system that works with your knowledge, your expertise and your experience. Our Government is listening to service providers. We want innovative ideas that address needs-based services and products to meet requirements of older Australians,” explained Minister Wells.

“We want people to bring practical solutions to that table. I want all voices to be heard at the table.”

What are your thoughts on Minister Wells’ vision for aged care? Tell us in the comments below.