About
Australians deserve to age well
If you’ve ever tried to access aged care services for yourself or your family you’ll know the system can be a minefield.
It’s hard to know where to start, it’s inconsistent and very complicated. In-home support services are extremely limited and residential care based on arbitrary ratios not demand.
And yet we know our population is ageing. By 2050 over 3.5 million Australians are expected to use aged care services each year. This is more than a threefold increase on a system that is already buckling under pressure today.
How will we afford it? How can we fix the system today so it can provide all of us with the choice, quality and dignity we deserve as we age?
In 2011 the independent Productivity Commission released the Caring for Older Australians report recommending comprehensive reform of the aged care sector.
The suggested changes would result in a much more people centred system with more choice which is fairer for everyone across the country.
Neither the Gillard Government nor the Opposition have officially responded to the report or committed to its recommendations.
We can’t afford to wait any longer. Decisions need to be made now to avoid much tougher decisions in the longer term.
Getting older is something that happens to all of us. Let’s act now, we all deserve to age well.
Who is age well?
The age well campaign is driven by a alliance of organisations in the aged care sector who recognise the urgent need for reform.
The alliance includes:
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Aged and Community Services Australia: Leading Aged & Community Care |
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Alzheimer’s Australia is the peak body for people with dementia and their families and carers. It provides advocacy, support services, education and information. |
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Anglicare Australia is a nationwide network of locally based Anglican organisations serving the needs of their communities. |
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The Association of Independent Retirees (A.I.R) Ltd is a national not for profit, non-political organisation that works to advance and protect the interests and independent lifestyle of Australians in or approaching retirement. |
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The Attendant Care Industry Association (ACIA) is the peak body for attendant care service providers operating across Australia. ACIA was established to support service providers to achieve positive outcomes for older people and people with disabilities of all ages who require support to remain living at home or in their community. |
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The Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine is the professional society for geriatricians and other medical practitioners with an interest in medical care of older people |
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Expanding knowledge of ageing to improve the experience of ageing. |
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The Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) is the national organisation representing 106 general practice networks and eight state-based organisations. AGPN works with these members to deliver local health solutions through general practice and other primary health care programs. |
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The AHHA is the peak independent membership body for all publicly funded healthcare services in Australia. |
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The Australian Nursing Federation is the industrial and professional organisation for nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing. |
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The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is the peak body representing the interests of Australian physiotherapists and their patients. |
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Baptist Care Australia represents the network of Baptist aged care and welfare providers across Australia. |
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Carers Australia is the national peak body representing and advocating for Australia’s 2.6 million carers. |
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Catholic Health Australia is the largest single grouping of non-government health, aged and community care services in Australia. |
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The leading national organisation advocating for the rights, needs and interests of older people. |
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Diversional Therapy Australia is the national professional body representing diversional therapists and recreation, lifestyle and leisure workers. |
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The Health Services Union (HSU) is a specialist health and aged care union, proudly representing over 70 000 health and aged care workers across Australia. |
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Leading Age Services Australia is the new national peak organisation for all providers of care, services and accommodation for older Australians. |
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Legacy – caring for over 100,000 widows and 1,800 children and disabled dependants of deceased and incapacitated veterans since 1923. |
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The Lutheran Church has been involved in providing quality aged care services to Australians since the 1930s. |
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The National Presbyterian Aged Care Network represents the state-based aged care organisations of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, covering all states of Australia and the ACT. |
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The National Stroke Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation that works with stroke survivors, carers, health professionals, government and the public to reduce the impact of stroke on the Australian community. |
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Occupational Therapy Australia is the professional association for occupational therapists. Our mission is to provide member benefits through access to local professional support and resources and through opportunities to contribute to, and shape, professional excellence. |
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Palliative Care Australia (PCA) is the peak national organisation representing the interests and aspirations of those who share the ideal of quality care at the end of life for all. |
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The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is the national peak body representing community pharmacy as the most appropriate primary provider of health care to the community through optimum therapeutic use of medicines, medicine management and related services. |
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The Royal College of Nursing (RCNA) is Australia’s peak professional nursing organisation, is the Australian member of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and is a national membership organisation open to nurses and nursing students in all areas of the profession. |
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United Voice is a union of workers campaigning for fair wages for aged care workers and quality care for older Australians. |