Commissioner for Older People in NSW?
The Parliament of NSW has released a Briefing Paper reviewing international legal and administrative developments relating to older people, specifically looking at the establishment of the first Commissioner for Older People in Wales.
It reports that there is no shortage of government and non-government organisations working on behalf of older people in NSW, which begs the question whether a new watchdog and/or advocacy body is needed at all.
Would such a body only duplicate the work of existing organisations?
Is there a genuine and identifiable gap to be filled, a compelling social and/or legal need that has to be addressed by a Commissioner for Older People?
Another consideration is that, as nursing homes are regulated by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, some of the work such a Commissioner might be expected to undertake would be found more under federal than state jurisdiction.
On the other hand, the scope of NSW involvement in the delivery of services to older people and the making of relevant laws remain very considerable.
It may be that a NSW Commissioner for Older People could operate as a one-stop shop, providing advice and direction on the availability of services at all levels of government..
