News

Aged care advocate Ramnik Singh Walia, has been recognised for his work to improve the lives of others at the Australian Human Rights Awards 2025.

Older people are being reminded of the government’s Financial Hardship Assistance program, amid reports of aged care contribution payments increasing since the New Aged Care Act was introduced on 1 November.  While the new Act has benefits including an important Statement of… Read More »Older people reminded of financial assistance available for aged care

Picture from Ageing Australia. From left: Andrea Kelly, Craig Gear, Lloyd Williams, Tom Symondson and Virgina Trioli.  OPAN shone a spotlight on advocacy, diversity and rights at the 2025 Ageing Australia National Conference on the Gold Coast this month, which… Read More »Meeting the moment, shaping the future: Ageing Australia National Conference 2025 wrap up 

Today, OPAN CEO Craig Gear launched the National Aged Care Advocacy Program Presenting Issues Report July 2024–June 2025.  Published annually, this report offers offers a detailed analysis of the 52,206 instances of information and advocacy support our network members provided… Read More »New report reveals persistent challenges facing older Australians

Paul Absalom is a member of OPAN’s National Older Persons Reference Group, which was formed in 2020 to hear directly from older people about the issues that affect them and to facilitate their active participation in aged care reform.  Tell… Read More »‘I came to Alice in 1982 to visit friends’ 

The Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae, attended a meeting in Melbourne today to hear directly from older people about their views on the new rights-based Aged Care Act, which comes into effect on 1 November.   “Forums like… Read More »Older people raise their concerns with Minister

More than 4,330 people registered for OPAN’s What the new Aged Care Act means for you: the Big Q&A webinar. Between them, they submitted more than 600 questions.  Our panel of experts worked hard to answer as many of those… Read More »Your Aged Care Act questions answered  

OPAN, as the national peak body of individual advocacy, is committed to supporting and championing the rights of older people,  and supports the implementation of the new Aged Care Act.    We believe the Act will, over time, drive rights-based care… Read More »PUBLIC STATEMENT – advocacy and aged care reform 

Kirby Slade, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community advocate with Elder Rights Australia, OPAN’s Victoria network member.  Tell us a little about your background  I am a proud Yorta Yorta woman who grew up in a small town in… Read More »Advocacy in action: Kirby Slade 

Financial issues were one of the main reasons older people living in residential care called OPAN’s Aged Care Advocacy Line in the 23/24 financial year. Sometimes, a clear explanation of the Services Australia assessment process and provider costs and fees… Read More »How to take (financial) control of your aged care