New aged care peak body entity full steam ahead

In a momentous vote, members of aged care peak bodies Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) and Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) have agreed to create a new united entity to represent aged care providers.

Posted May 2nd 2022

by Liz Alderslade

<p>Aged and Community Services Australia and Leading Age Services Australia members have voted to create a new overarching body to give a more unified voice to aged care providers. [Source: Shutterstock]</p> — Aged and Community Services Australia and Leading Age Services Australia members have voted to create a new overarching body to give a more unified voice to aged care providers. [Source: Shutterstock]

The decision to potentially merge into a new overarching body for the aged care sector was first discussed in December 2021.

A final vote was needed to seal the deal and the agreement was reached last week.

The unified body is now a reality and the new organisation will officially launch on 1 July 2022, replacing the current LASA and ACSA organisations. This organisation will be called Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA).

Dr Graeme Blackman AO FTSE FAICD, Chair of LASA, says this is a landmark decision that will benefit the aged care sector.

“This decision heralds a new era for Australia’s aged care sector with a single industry association to provide a strong and united voice, as well as a helping hand, for all providers of aged care services,” says Dr Blackman.

The recommendation for a new entity was first suggested by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which believed this would provide strong leadership and a single advocacy voice for providers of residential care, home and community care and retirement living for older Australians.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LASA, Sean Rooney, says that this is an important transformation to meet the needs of a changing aged care industry.

“This vote is an historic result for LASA and ACSA and for the aged care sector more broadly,” says Mr Rooney.

“It marks the start of a new era for Australian aged care representation, with the creation of a united, single industry association, and reflects the recommendation of the Aged Care Royal Commission which called for unified and collaborative sector representation.

“It’s an exciting step which paves the way for stronger and more influential aged care sector representation as we undertake challenging sector reform – with the aim of achieving the care that older Australians need and deserve.”

Chair of ACSA, Professor Stephen Cornelissen, says that this decision will mean aged care representation will have a strong base and the united organisation can move forward with confidence as it supports all of its members across Australia.

“We know from the Royal Commission that the aged care sector faces enormous challenges as it undertakes reform and what is needed is the strongest possible representation to take our sector forward,” says Professor Cornelissen.

More details will be announced about the new organisation over the coming weeks.