What the Aged Care Royal Commission Will Do: In Plain English
Published 18 October 2018
The terms of reference for the Royal Commission into Aged Care are broad and fair. The Royal Commission can investigate anything it wants.
Super Contribution Exemption
Published 18 October 2018
The Federal Treasury is working on regulations that provide a one-year exemption from the work test for superannuation contributions to allow recent retirees to boost their superannuation balances.
Report on the Need for Regulation of Mobility Scooters Released
Published 18 October 2018
The Senate inquiry into the need for regulation of mobility scooters, also known as motorised wheelchairs, released its final report on 20 September 2018.
Change to MRI Referrals by GPs
Published 18 October 2018
From 1 November 2018, GPs will no longer be able to make referrals for knee-MRIs for patients 50-and-older. Instead, the GP must refer patients to a specialist, who is then able to make the referral if they think it is necessary.
Knee MRI referrals by GPs should stay: pensioners
Published 17 October 2018
“Cancellation of MRI referrals by GPs for patients 50-and-older from 1 November 2018 is age discriminatory”, said CPSA Policy Manager Paul Versteege.
Mandatory Reporting on Staffing Ratios
Published 26 September 2018
Rebekha Sharkie MP from the Centre Alliance Party has introduced legislation into the federal Parliament to force nursing homes to publish how many staff are rostered on at any point.
Aged Care post-ABC4Corners: Action now, Royal Commission later!
Published 24 September 2018
“Monday night’s second ABC 4Corners program on aged care has shown in detail just how bad things are in Australia’s nursing homes. CPSA has said it many times: nursing homes are dangerous places and unsuitable for purpose”, said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege. [more]
Hearing Impaired Robbed of Smoke Alarm Subsidy
Published 20 September 2018
There is a glaring gap for people with hearing impairment over 65 trying to access smoke alarms.
Aged Care Royal Commission: A Business Improvement Initiative?
Published 20 September 2018
On Sunday 16 September 2018, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a Royal Commission into aged care, but you wonder why.
Electricity Prices on the Way Down?
Published 20 September 2018
A recently announced Australian Government decision has the potential to significantly ease electricity costs.
Fees for Paper Bills Decision Delayed
Published 20 September 2018
Update on the fees for paper bills decision.
Why the Pension Age Must Stay at 67
Published 20 September 2018
The Australian Government has ditched its plan to raise the age at which people become eligible for the Age Pension to 70. It held on to the plan for more than three years after announcing it as part of Budget 2015.
Energy Supplement Safe!
Published 20 September 2018
The Australian Government has decided to abandon plans to axe the Energy Supplement,
Minimum Wage for Pensioners: New Social Security Commission
Published 20 September 2018
The Victorian independent Member of the federal Parliament Cathy McGowan has introduced a private member’s Bill to establish a social security commission.
A Catch When Switching Super Funds
Published 20 September 2018
With all the talk recently about underperforming retail superannuation funds, you could be tempted to switch to a better performing fund. However, there can be a catch.
ASIC Slams Reverse Mortgages
Published 20 September 2018
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) reviewed 17,000 actual reverse mortgages which older people had taken out on their homes.
How Nursing Home Industry Saves Half a Billion Dollars a Year on Staff
Published 20 September 2018
The trial of an on-call medical service for 24 nursing homes in Brisbane has prevented more than 600 unnecessary trips to the hospital emergency department and up to 500 unnecessary hospitalisations over a 12-month period.
Nursing Home Medications: Why staffing Ratios Are Important
Published 20 September 2018
Nearly two-thirds of nursing home residents are given psychiatric drugs every day. A drug use survey by the University of Tasmania has shown that 61 per cent of 11,300 residents in 150 homes were on daily doses of benzodiazepines, a type of tranquilliser drug, or antidepressants, many of which were also a sedative. [more]
No Freedom of Information under Single Aged Care Quality Framework
Published 20 September 2018
The Aged Care (Single Quality Framework) Reform Bill 2018 has cleared the Senate, but the sector will maintain its secrecy and culture of cover-ups.
Royal Commission? Great But We Need Action Now!
Published 18 September 2018
"Monday night's ABC 4Corners program has shown in graphic detail just how bad things are in many of Australia's nursing homes, with relatives of residents resorting to planting secret cameras to record the evidence of violence and neglect perpetrated against their loved ones", said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege. [more]
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