First Chief Clinical Advisor appointed for Aged Care Commission

Doctor Melanie Wroth will be working with Commission staff providing expert clinical advice and supporting aged care providers in finding and delivering best practice clinical care for recipients of aged care services.

The part-time Interim CCA, Associate Professor Michael Murray, will be stepping down from his temporary role to allow for Dr Wroth to take the position.

He has undertaken the temporary role since the beginning of the inquiry in January.

Commissioner Janet Anderson says the appointment has come at an important time during the Commission, which will help introduce new Quality Standards and a new Charter of Aged Care rights from July 1.

“Dr Wroth will work on a sector-wide basis to help raise awareness of clinical issues and areas of high risk in aged care, and promote better practice,” Commissioner Anderson says.

“This will include leading and supporting engagement with key stakeholders, with a particular focus on communicating with aged care providers, health professionals, and peak bodies representing both providers and consumers.”

Dr Wroth’s work will also include making available evidence-informed clinical advice about quality and safety in aged care to supporting staff and providing advice on care recipients concerns in relation to their service provider.

Following the appointment to the position which will begin on May 10, Dr Wroth will be a member of the Commission’s executive leadership group.

She will contribute through all areas of the Commission, such as quality assessment and monitoring, complaints resolution, education and consumer engagement.

Dr Wroth has an extensive background in geriatric medicine. She graduated from the University of Sydney in1981, become a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians in 1992, and began her career in medical care for the elderly in 1990.

She has also been working in a teaching capacity, especially in geriatric medicine, while in a senior staff specialist in Geriatric Medicine at the Royal Alfred Hospital since 2010.

Dr Wroth has extensive expertise and is well trusted in her field, which is why she was a consultant to the NSW Medical Council and a senior member of the Guardianship Divisions of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.