New appointment strengthens First Nations voice as aged care reform tensions surface
Published on 19 January 2026
The Albanese Government has appointed Natasha McCormack to the National Aged Care Advisory Council, adding deep community, governance and lived experience expertise at a time when the pace and pressure of reform is sharpening.
Ms McCormack, an Arrernte, Warumungu, Alawa and Kija woman, is Deputy CEO of Purple House in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). She brings more than two decades of experience across governance, policy, advocacy and community development, working across commercial, government and non-government sectors, and with first-hand insight into the challenges faced by Aboriginal people in remote communities.
Her two-year appointment runs until 31 December 2027, replacing Professor Jody Currie, whose term spanned the critical development phase of current aged care reforms.
The National Aged Care Advisory Council provides independent, expert advice to Government on aged care policy, services and performance, with a specific focus on reform implementation.
Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae said Ms McCormack’s appointment would strengthen the Council’s contribution as reforms move from design to delivery.
“Ms McCormack brings a wealth of experience working with older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and I look forward to her insights as we continue to implement our once-in-a-generation reforms to aged care.
“I’m deeply grateful to Professor Currie for her work on the National Aged Care Advisory Council and wish her well as she continues to make a contribution to the community in her new roles.”
“The National Aged Care Advisory Council plays an integral role in shaping aged care policy and programs in Australia – I look forward to working with the Council in 2026 as we continue delivering generational reform to aged care across the country.”
A Council dealing with reform reality, not theory
The timing of Ms McCormack’s appointment is notable. The Council’s most recent meeting, held on 19 November 2025, was the first attended by Minister Rae following the 1 November implementation of the Aged Care Act 2024, and it revealed both optimism and strain across the system.
Council members reported a “positive shift in workforce attitudes under the new Act”, with strong support for the rights-based approach and whistleblower protections. These changes were seen as improving recognition of staff roles and encouraging openness.
At the same time, members flagged growing operational pressure, particularly around fee transparency, compliance workload, and the administrative burden pulling time away from direct care. Gaps in training on new arrangements and fees were also raised, highlighting the uneven readiness of the sector as reforms bed down.
Pricing transparency and consent under scrutiny
One of the clearest signals from the November meeting was concern about pricing transparency and its impact on older people.
Council members expressed unease that only a portion of providers had published prices, limiting consumer choice and creating pressure on older people to sign agreements without the ability to compare options. The Department reported progress on price publication and outlined steps toward regulatory enforcement, but the discussion underscored the tension between reform intent and on-the-ground execution.
Financial sustainability remains unresolved
Accommodation pricing and care funding also featured heavily, with Council members highlighting the strain of rising construction costs and the challenge of building services for residents with higher and more complex needs, including dementia care.
While acknowledging the need to plan for an ageing population, members stressed that financial sustainability must be addressed alongside quality expectations, noting that design and regulation must align if reforms are to deliver genuine outcomes rather than structural fragility.
Care minutes, complaints and rights in practice
The Council also revisited the care minutes supplement, supporting its intent to align funding with care delivery, while cautioning against changes that could incentivise under-delivery. Members favoured refining the supplement to reward full or above-target care delivery, without eroding person-centred outcomes.
The Aged Care Complaints Commissioner attended the Council for the first time, reinforcing a shift away from compliance-only thinking toward a rights-based lens grounded in lived experience. The discussion highlighted the need for systemic understanding of rights, continuous improvement, and education to ensure rights are consistently understood across the system.
A new voice as reform meets reality
Ms McCormack’s appointment lands as the Council grapples with reform fatigue, uneven implementation, and the real-world consequences of policy decisions for communities often furthest from Canberra.
Her background in remote health, governance and community-led models brings a perspective that aligns closely with the Council’s current concerns: how rights-based reform translates into practical, culturally safe care, how funding mechanisms shape behaviour, and how systems can support both accountability and sustainability.
As aged care reform moves from legislation into lived experience, the Council’s advice, and who sits around the table, is becoming more consequential by the month.