Industry crying out for reform

Calling for the Commission’s findings to be the catalyst for urgently needed industry reform, the Aged & Community Care Victoria (ACCV) head stood before the Productivity Commission as the voice of an industry that is “on uncertain and unsustainable footings”.

ACCV chief executive officer, Gerard Mansour said, “If we act now, we have the opportunity to make a real difference for the enormous number of older Australians who will rely on our industry in the years to come.
 
“The extensive and comprehensive Productivity Commission draft report, Caring For Older Australians, has set a vision for the longer term and heralds a much needed breakthrough for a system long suffering from underfunding,” said Mr Mansour in his address to the Commission in the second of a series of hearings being held throughout the nation in the next month.
 
“In its current form, the aged care industry cannot cope with the predicted peak of older Australians. Similarly, our older Australians should have the choice of aged care they want, when and where they need it. If we don’t have a sustainable industry, older Australians can’t have the choice of the services they need.
 
“ACCV supports the direction of the reform agenda contained in the draft report. There are refinements we will be looking for in the final report, but never before has aged care been so important on the national stage. The Productivity Commission’s draft report has demonstrated this need and this will be further cemented in the final report,” he continued.
 
“It is ACCV’s view that the biggest threat to the industry, and the needs of consumers, is that reform ends up looking all too hard for implementation and only minor adjustments to the current system replace the comprehensive and visionary plan for reform outlined by the Productivity Commission,” said Mr Mansour.
 
ACCV’s submission to the Productivity Commission supports and endorses the submissions made by national peak bodies Aged Care Services Australia and Aged Care Association Australia and adds further to these submissions with a direct focus on particular areas of importance to the Victorian community, formed from direct consultation with ACCV Members.
 
“The aged care industry is passionate about the quality of care it provides for older Australians. The outcomes under our Accreditation system demonstrate the most significant commitment by our entire industry not only meet the needs of older Australians, but to excel,” said Mr Mansour.
 
“The industry wants a definitive investment in long term reform to ensure the future care of older Australians and the time to act is now.”