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COTA and OPAN consultations

New rights-based Aged Care Act and funding principles

What does rights-based care look like and how can we pay for it?

The Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia and the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) will inform the Australian Government of your views on two major reforms:

  • the new Aged Care Act and the rights and other foundational aspects it contains, and
  • funding principles for a sustainable aged care system.

We held consultations in August and September 2023 to provide a platform for older people, families and carers to share their knowledge and insights.

As human rights-based organisations, COTA and OPAN wanted to ensure a diverse range of perspectives are heard – across all age groups. We will reflect these perspectives in our submissions to the Australian Government.

Joint Submission – Foundations of the Aged Care Act

A joint submission by 13 national organisations working with older people and carers, in response to the Australian Government’s consultation raised in the A New Aged Care Act: the foundations, Consultation Paper No.1.

The submission reflects the experiences and wants of older people, that they, carers and family members have shared with consumer organisations. It reflects our collective knowledge and experience in supporting and advocating with and on behalf of older people and carers.

The submission makes 59 recommendations across a diverse range of topics including recommendations about:

  • the legislative drafting of the new legislation, its purpose, objectives and principles
  • legal obligations of care including comments on the proposed high quality care approach
  • introducing human rights into aged care and ensuring rights are upheld and implemented
  • supported decision-making
  • the future complaints system, penalties and compensation
  • eligibility criteria to access aged care services.

It is anticipated the Government will release an exposure draft of the new Aged Care Act in December 2023.

This submission was prepared jointly by:

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia, Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) and the supporting organisations listed below.

230911_Submission_Joint_Consumer_Carer_Foundations_of_the_Act.pdf
Joint Submission – Foundations of the Aged Care Act

August - September 2023 consultations

Consultations have now completed.

  • 12 consultation forums took place across Australia in August – September 2023.
  • We held an online forum on 23 August 2023.

If you are interested in participating in future consultation forums, please register here your interest here.

Australia is at an aged care crossroads. We need your feedback on these proposed reforms to ensure we get them right.

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