New ACSAA Chair appointed

Dr Andrew Refshauge was recently announced as the Chair of the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency (ACSAA) Board and will commence his new role on 1 July 2012.

Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, said Dr Refshauge, who has been a member of the board of the ACSAA since 2008, would bring extensive experience in government, health care and medicine to his new role which will include introducing greater transparency into the system as part of aged care reform.

He has served in a variety of senior leadership roles in the New South Wales government, including as Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Health. Dr Andrew Refshauge currently chairs the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Careflight, and is a medical practitioner by training.

He also holds positions in a number of other medical and research bodies and is Chair of the Investment Committee of the NSW Aboriginal Lands Council.

“This experience, and his broad experience and familiarity with the aged care sector and the workings of ACSAA will ensure the agency’s smooth transition from its current role to the expanded the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency,” Mr Butler said.

“As part of the government’s Living Longer Living Better reform package, this transformed body will be the sole agency with which providers will deal in relation to quality assurance of the services they deliver, as it assumes responsibility for not just accreditation, but quality,” he added.

Dr Refshauge will replace James Harrowell AM who has been Chair of ACSAA since 2000 and a member of the board since 1999.

Mr Butler thanked Jim Harrowell for his significant contribution to the aged care sector during his chairmanship.

“I don’t think it an exaggeration to say that Jim Harrowell is the founding father of accreditation in residential aged care in Australia,” Mr Butler stated.

“His tenure at ACSAA has seen better practice and continual improvement throughout the sector, and brought national and international recognition for the work of the agency.

“Mr Harrowell has worked closely and collaboratively with the aged care industry, and his strong personal involvement in quality assurance has added value to the sector.”