ACSA Release:

Patrick McClure AO has been appointed CEO of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA). ACSA is the national peak body representing not-for-profit and faith-based organisations providing residential and community-based aged care, accommodation and housing.  Announcing the appointment, ACSA President Klaus Zimmermann said Mr McClure’s distinguished career as an advocate, social justice campaigner and dynamic business leader made him a compelling choice for CEO.

“The ACSA Board is delighted Mr McClure has accepted the position and the challenge to steer the aged care sector through the reform process,” Mr Zimmermann said.

“His credentials in the not-for-profit sector are outstanding and will be invaluable as we embark on a new era for aged care following the Productivity Commission inquiry.”

Mr McClure was appointed Ethics Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact, University of NSW in 2009. His previous positions include CEO of the Retirement Villages Group, CEO of Mission Australia and CEO of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (NSW/ACT). He was awarded an Order of Australia (AO) in 2003 for service to the community through the development of social capital policy initiatives and the delivery of programs addressing social justice, welfare support, health and employment generation issues. Mr McClure said he was enthusiastic about his new role with ACSA.

“This is an exciting time for the sector which has suffered from being left in the “too hard” basket,” he said.

“The profound issues of where and how we care for our ageing population came into sharp focus for Australians with the release of the 2010 Intergenerational Report.

“However, the current Productivity Commission inquiry, Caring for Older Australians, coupled with the Federal Government’s commitment to reform the sector, have opened the door to imperative reforms.

“I am confident that in partnership with the Government, consumers and workers, we can achieve a sustainable aged care system which responds to our individual and collective needs now and well into the future.”

Mr McClure will be based in Canberra from June 1, 2011.

Safe Work Australia has released a report from the National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance Survey: Wet work exposure and the provision of wet work control measures in Australian workplaces. Occupational skin diseases, such as contact dermatitis of the hands, are one of the most common work-related problems presenting to Australian general practitioners. One of the most important risk factors for occupational skin disease is wet work, which refers to exposure of the hands to liquids, either through frequent hand washing or through immersion of the hands in liquids.

This report describes the employment and demographic characteristics of Australian workers who reported high levels of wet work exposure in the course of their work. The information in this report will enable the development of targeted work health and safety policy and practice interventions that will lead the way in reducing occupational contact dermatitis. Read more here.