The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has welcomed the passing of the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner and Other Measures) Bill 2026 by the Australian Senate and the government’s announcement of an independent… Read More »OPAN welcomes aged care assessment reforms and independent review
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has welcomed the release of the proposed Aged Care Rules and an amendments Bill in Parliament which improve the rights and protections for older people. OPAN CEO Craig Gear OAM said the Bill contains… Read More »OPAN cautiously welcomes improved assessment pathway
Darwin Community Legal Service aged care advocate, Eduardo Sparrenberger When aged care advocate Eduardo Sparrenberger was supporting an older person to have an electric bed supplied by their provider, he didn’t expect to also find thousands of dollars in fee… Read More »Advocacy in action: the power of speaking up
OPAN has completed our investigation into the unauthorised email titled ‘The National Advocate – Special Appeal’, which was sent to people on OPAN’s mailing list through a third-party mailing system on September 11, 2026. The email asked for donations and… Read More »Cyber incident update
Older people want to be at the centre of decisions that affect them, not consulted after decisions have been made. This was a clear message from OPAN’s annual roundtable. Held to mark the United Nations International Day of Older Persons… Read More »Living Well in the Age of Longevity
An unauthorised email titled “The National Advocate – Special Appeal” has been distributed from a third party mailing system. Please do not click any links, open attachments, or provide any personal information in response to this email. We are actively… Read More »Important Security Notice
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has submitted its response to the Community Affairs References Committee inquiry into the Support at Home Program, highlighting systemic issues that require urgent attention. While OPAN supports the intent of the program and the broader reform of Australia’s aged care system, many older people are… Read More »OPAN submission to Support at Home inquiry
Support at Home reform and the future of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) emerged as key concerns during the first face-to-face meeting of the newly reformed National Older Persons Reference Group (NOPRG), held in Sydney this month. Drawing on their lived and living experience of the… Read More »Older people share insights to inform advocacy and aged care reform
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) welcomes today’s announcement by the Albanese Government to retain the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) as a standalone program until 30 June 2029, with further reform to occur. OPAN CEO Craig Gear said the move is sensible… Read More »OPAN welcomes Commonwealth’s CHSP decision
Older people across Australia continue to experience delays and unacceptable challenges with the Support at Home program, with ABC Four Corners bringing national attention to critical issues that need urgent reform. Ongoing areas of concern include the use of a… Read More »ABC Four Corners highlights systemic problems with Support at Home program