AUSTRALIAN AGED CARE GETS BOOSTER DOSE

In 2017, there were 3.8 million Australians aged 65 and over (comprising 15 per cent of the total population) —increasing from 319,000 (5 per cent) in 1927 and 1.3 million (9 per cent) in 1977. The number and proportion of older Australians is expected to continue to grow. By 2057, it is projected that there will be 8.8 million older people in Australia (22 per cent of the population); by 2097, 12.8 million people (25 per cent) will be aged 65 and over according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2017. Looking at the growing trend, the government of Australia has a separate ministry for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services and undertaken many steps to support them with respect, care and dignity.

- Narayan Kulkarni

The Australian Government has taken an important step to deliver its reforms to aged care by introducing the first legislation in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 1) Bill 2021 has been introduced into Parliament on May 27, 2021, and makes necessary changes to current aged care legislation, ahead of the new Aged Care Act planned for 2023.

This bill is the first step in the Government’s five-year, five-pillar, aged care reform plan addressing home care, residential aged care services and sustainability, residential care quality and safety, workforce and governance. The health, safety and wellbeing of senior Australians is of the utmost importance to the government, and is driving its plan for generational change of the aged care sector.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said that the amendments will deliver immediate priority changes around restrictive practices, home care assurance reviews, and repeal the Aged Care Financing Authority. “Regulating the use of restrictive practices, like chemical and physical restraint, is a critical focus for the Australian Government to improve quality and safety of aged care”, Minister Hunt said.

“Addressing concerns raised by the Royal Commission and the independent review into restraint, our amendments will mean from July 1, we will have clearly defined restrictive practices, which align with the definitions used in the disability sector. We are strengthening legislation to ensure that restrictive practices are only used as a last resort, the impact on the care recipient is considered, and consent arrangements are clear,” said Hunt.