The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has expressed support for the Australian Government's decision to postpone the commencement date of the new Aged Care Act, with Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells announcing that the government is now considering feedback before finalising the draft legislation.
RLC Executive Director Daniel Gannon called the delay "the best news we've had on this front for months," citing challenges with genuine consultation on the Bill from the outset and the impact of the delayed release of the Aged Care Taskforce's recommendations on understanding the holistic intentions for the future funding and provision of aged care services in Australia.
"For these reasons, deferring the commencement date for the new Act is an obvious and welcome development to ensure we get it right. Frankly, it's too important to get wrong," Mr Gannon said.
While retirement living operators fundamentally support the government's commitment to reforming the aged care sector to ensure older people who access government-funded aged care services are treated with respect and dignity, Mr Gannon emphasised the need for reforms to facilitate new and innovative models for the provision of care, not impede them.
"Australia is experiencing a dramatic demographic shift, propelled by an ageing population. Over the course of the next decade and a half, the number of people aged over 75 is expected to increase by 70 per cent, with this cohort increasing from 2 million to 3.4 million," he said.
The RLC's eight key recommendations from its March 8, 2024 submission can be accessed online, highlighting the importance of ensuring the aged care system is prepared to meet the significantly increased demand for services in the coming years.
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has expressed support for the Australian Government's decision to postpone the commencement date of the new Aged Care Act, with Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells announcing that the government is now considering feedback before finalising the draft legislation.
RLC Executive Director Daniel Gannon called the delay "the best news we've had on this front for months," citing challenges with genuine consultation on the Bill from the outset and the impact of the delayed release of the Aged Care Taskforce's recommendations on understanding the holistic intentions for the future funding and provision of aged care services in Australia.
"For these reasons, deferring the commencement date for the new Act is an obvious and welcome development to ensure we get it right. Frankly, it's too important to get wrong," Mr Gannon said.
While retirement living operators fundamentally support the government's commitment to reforming the aged care sector to ensure older people who access government-funded aged care services are treated with respect and dignity, Mr Gannon emphasised the need for reforms to facilitate new and innovative models for the provision of care, not impede them.
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"Australia is experiencing a dramatic demographic shift, propelled by an ageing population. Over the course of the next decade and a half, the number of people aged over 75 is expected to increase by 70 per cent, with this cohort increasing from 2 million to 3.4 million," he said.
The RLC's eight key recommendations from its March 8, 2024 submission can be accessed online, highlighting the importance of ensuring the aged care system is prepared to meet the significantly increased demand for services in the coming years.
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