More aged care groups call for changes to govt aged care package

Over 350 aged care industry representatives have delivered a communique calling for the problems with the government’s Securing the Future of Aged Care package to be addressed, which will require “significant changes”.

At the Tri-State Conference in Albury delegates welcomed the acknowledgment by Hon. Santo Santoro, Minister for Ageing, that the Howard Government’s aged care package needs to be refined and importantly the commitment by the Minister to respond within the next few weeks.
Gerard Mansour, chief executive officer (CEO), Aged and Community Care Victoria, said: “The industry recognises the intention of the Howard government is to invest in aged care. But, we need to get it right and the package requires some modifications.

“There are potential losers in the package as it currently stands. If the package really wants to secure our future, then it needs to address the potential funding issues that the industry has identified,” said Alan Graham, CEO, Aged & Community Services SA & NT Inc.

A communique from the conference delegates in response to the Minister’s speech identified two fundamental short-comings:

1. Some services will lose money under the package, and
2. It doesn’t adequately support the capital growth required for the industry to provide for the growing demand for more services.

Paul Sadler, CEO, Aged & Community Services NSW & ACT said: “We have a strong belief that the capital funding initiatives in this package are inadequate. We know the Minister is aware of that and we look forward to a quick resolution to these problems.”

The industry message is clear.

The $1.5 billion dollar investment is welcomed. They know the government wants to support the development of a sustainable industry. But there are problems that need fixing and the industry is looking for a quick response from government to the issues.