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Final aged care report handed to Governor-General
The federal government has finally been handed a final report into the inadequacies of the aged care sector, which is expected to detail over two years of abuse and neglect, made even worse by mistreatments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Naomi Neilson
Governor-General David Hurley received the report and will begin reviewing the likely hundreds of recommendations before compiling his response in the coming days. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government is “committed to addressing the many issues”, possibly including poor pay and conditions for staff.
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In the days prior to the report being handed over, Monash University’s Castan Centre made public its submission, which raised serious concerns about the quality of aged care in, and regulation of, Australia’s residential facilities.
Director the Honourable Kevin Bell AM QC said the key point of the submission was “the underlying problem with the delivery and regulation of residential aged care in Australia is aged care is treated as a consumer issue upon the basis it is a business.
“This has to change. Aged care should be treated as a human rights issue upon the basis that the dignity, wellbeing and rights of aged persons are at stake.”
The alleged violations expected to be included during the final report relate to the communication of and access to information, visitation policies, the treatment of residents belonging to cultural and linguistic minorities, access to food and other basic supplies, access to healthcare services and restrictive practices.
Founder of the Professor Joe Aged Care Advocacy Group, Professor Joseph Ibrahim, commented: “The greatest failing of our nation in residential aged care is when we have the knowledge, skills and capability to deliver a world class system. Yet the abuse, neglect and substandard care continues, largely unabated.”
