New reforms ensure safe aged care for New England's older residents

20 Apr 2018

Senior residents in the New England and their families will benefit from significant aged care quality reforms announced by the Coalition Government.  

 

At the heart of these reforms, aged care regulation, compliance and complaints handing will be brought together in a new and independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. 

 

A new performance rating system against the quality standards will also be introduced providing residents in the New England with access to a comparison tool when selecting aged care providers. It will ensure senior Australians and their families have clear, concise information when choosing aged care options.

 

Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, welcomed the reforms.

 

 “When I speak to people in towns and villages across the New England, what’s certain is their desire for reform in the aged care sector has been made very clear,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“This significant reform will raise the bar on quality aged care, and sends a strong message to Australians that quality aged care is a top priority for the Coalition Government.”

 

Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt, said the reforms would bring confidence to older Australians and their families in deciding on aged care options.

 

“The new independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, will give the more than 1.3 million Australians in Commonwealth aged care support and their families, peace of mind that they will receive safe, quality care,” Minister Wyatt said. 

 

“Our senior Australians built the nation that we enjoy today. They have rightly earned the respect of the community and must be cared for with the dignity they deserve.”

 

The new Commission will start from 1 January 2019 and will bring together the functions of the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner and the aged care regulatory functions of the Department of Health.  

 

The reforms will include development options, in consultation with the aged care sector, for a Serious Incident Response Scheme to ensure the right systems are in place to identify incidents and prevent them from occurring again.

(ENDS)

 

 

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