Today, OPAN CEO, Craig Gear launched the National Aged Care Advocacy Program – Presenting Issues Report July 2023–June 2024.
This annual report offers a detailed analysis of the 44,428 instances of information and advocacy support our network members provided to older people, their families and other representatives – a 20 per cent increase on the previous year.
Poor communication, lack of choice and control and issues around fees and charges were the key challenges for the third year in a row.
Workforce shortages, along with provider approaches to implementing changes to the Social, Community Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Industry Award, also continued to have a major impact on consistent and reliable service delivery in 2023–24.
The data collected by our network members helps us to identify systemic issues within the aged care sector and to suggest practical solutions. This year, we have made 47 (including 23 from last year) recommendations to government spanning:
- aged care rights (6 recommendations)
- workforce (4)
- accessing aged care (10)
- service availability (6)
- service delivery (5)
- financial issues (12)
- aged care advocacy (4)
‘To deliver quality aged care for future generations, we must listen carefully to those for whom the current system isn’t working,’ Mr Gear said.
