The ‘enormous’ aged care challenge ahead

Comments by the new Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Senator Jacinta Collins, regarding ‘extra’ and ‘new’ funding for age services, fail to recognise that these increases have come through the redirection of age services funding in other areas, said Patrick Reid, Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) chief executive says.

“Leading Age Services is supportive of many of the changes that are taking place and has worked with government to help implement change.

 “It was extremely disappointing to read some of the Minister’s comments about age services funding, and in particular her comments about ‘new’ and ‘extra’ funding.

“Nearly $2.6 billion of aged care funding over the Forward Estimates has actually been redirected. The funding which some might call ‘extra’ or ‘new’, would have previously been directed to age services providers, to undertake their important work in caring for older Australians.”

Mr Reid said many aged care services do remarkable work in caring for older Australians 24 hours a day, every day, but it will be an enormous challenge for many providers implementing significant policy change, while also remaining financially viable.”

Mr Reid also noted the Minister’s comments about the Productivity Commission Report, which was both commissioned and considered by the government, and said that like the Minister’s comments about age services funding, should not be considered in isolation.

“The complete story is that the Productivity Commission Report, Caring for Older Australians, made many recommendations, but the government has been selective in what has been implemented,” Mr Reid said.

“Leading Age Services Australia continues to call on the government to implement the recommendations of the Productivity Commission Report, Caring for Older Australians, in full, to appropriately and best recognise the care needs facing all older Australians.”

Mr Reid said that while the industry’s goal is to continue to work in a productive way with the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, greater recognition of the challenges in implementing change to age services is needed.

“A viable age services industry, while providing care that all older Australians deserve, must be a priority of any government. It must be recognised that the changes are not necessarily through ‘new’ or ‘extra’ funding in isolation, but have come through redirection of funding away from those who are on the frontline in delivering care.”