Reviews
There have been no less than six inquiries into aged care recently and an additional one hasn’t yet finished. But to hold an inquiry is one thing, responding to it is quite another.
The Australian Law Reform Commission’s report into elder abuse was released in June 2017. The Government has yet to respond.
The Senate Community Affairs Committees report into the future of Australia’s aged care sector workforce was also released in June 2017. The Government has yet to respond, although it is now conducting its own work force review. An Expert Panel is on the job there, but the unions have been excluded.
The Review of National Aged Care Quality Regulatory Processes delivered its report on 3 October 2017. The Government has yet to respond.
The Review of the Aged Care Funding Instrument Report was published on 19 October 2017. The Government has yet to respond.
Then there is the Wollongong University Report on the Cost of Care, released in April 2017, which said that the Aged Care Funding Instrument isn’t fit for purpose, was released in April 2017. The Government has yet to respond.
Finally, there is the inquiry into the Oakden nursing home debacle, also known as the Carnell review, which released its report on 25 October 2017. The Government has yet to respond, apart from adopting one recommendation, which was the replacement of three-yearly accreditation audits, which don’t work, with unannounced spot checks, which also don’t work.
Plenty to respond to, but wouldn’t it be better to have a Royal Commission into the whole sorry mess of aged care in Australia?
The House of Representatives has launched another inquiry into aged care, aged care quality to be specific. Submissions are due 8 February.
