Media Centre

ACQ strives to be the media’s preferred commentator on aged care issues within the State.

While faced with the challenges of communicating the complexities of the aged care industry to the everyday person, ACQ consistently delivers a united voice in the media for its members.

The following media resources produced by the Association aim to improve the industry’s standing within the Queensland community and encourage more sensitive and thoughtful discussion of negative issues regarding aged care in the media.

Pluming newsflash number 467

Media Centre

Licence requirements including fire occupational licenses and supervising apprentices/ provisional plumbers.

Purpose: To advise licensed plumbers about their obligations when supervising apprentices or provisional plumbers and the introduction of fire occupational licences by the Queensland Building Services Authority (QBSA). Click here to read the newsflash.

Female baby boomers need crisis accommodation

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According to a report in The Age by Michelle Griffin an increasing number of baby boomer women now access crisis accommodation services. Griffin quotes Shelley Mallett, Hanover Welfare Services’ general manager of research and service development, who, along with other crisis services and housing agencies, have identified a new wave of clients – the dinner ladies, office cleaners and housewives of the 1960s and 1970s. These clients, who have little or no superannuation, are being forced out of private rental in larger numbers than ever before. Read More

"They present to [our services] very late,'' says Ms Mallett, who is overseeing a wide-ranging study of the ageing homeless for Hanover.

"They don't know anything about the welfare sector. They have been couch surfing and sleeping in cars… this is an emergency problem that is going to grow, and these are people who don't need to be in the [crisis accommodation] system."

Ms Griffin reports that all the research suggests that this problem is only going to get worse.

By 2008, more than 100,000 Australians over 65 were already struggling to stay in their homes, according to a study by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. And demand for public housing for pensioners is expected to increase by 50% by 2016.

More young people look towards volunteering

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A new report released by Minister for Social Inclusion Tanya Plibersek has found that volunteers have a growing preference for online volunteering and more young people want to get involved. The report, National Volunteering Strategy Consultation, found that traditional forms of volunteering remained popular but new forms of participation were emerging and needed to be accommodated. Changes include a growing preference for online volunteering, more young people and highly skilled early retirees wanting to volunteer, and an increasing interest in short term or project based volunteering. The report will inform the National Volunteering Strategy which the Gillard Government plans to release later this year.

Queensland reconciliation awards 2011 open

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The Premier recently invited Queensland businesses, community organisations, and educational institutions with projects paving the way for reconciliation in Queensland to nominate for a 2011 Queensland Reconciliation Award. The awards offer a total prize money of $25 000 across five categories: Business, Community Organisation, Education, Partnerships and the Premier's Reconciliation Award. Nominations close Friday 11 March 2011 and award winners will be announced at a ceremony during Reconciliation Week in May 2011. For more information or to download a nomination form, visit www.reconciliation.qld.gov.au or telephone 07 3033 0672.

Emergency plans debrief

Media Centre

A number of our members have expressed a wish for members to share their “lessons learned” following the impact of the recent emergencies around the state and have asked if ACQI would be a conduit for this information sharing. If you are willing to do this, could you please send any information to the following:

Residential Care: Pam Bridges This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Ruth Forrester This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or Colleen Davis This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Or alternatively ring the Head Office on 3725 5555 and ask to speak to one of the staff mentioned above. When ACQI has received the feedback, we will de identify Approved Providers and share the information through the normal channels – committee meetings, regional meetings, Newsfax and the website.

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