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.

Minister Raises Dementia Awareness

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Almost 600,000 Australians are projected to be living with dementia by 2030 as Australia’s population ages, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler said recently. Mr Butler has launched awareness-raising campaign materials – ‘Know the Signs’, which will provide information to health professionals and the general public to raise awareness about the early signs of dementia and the importance of early treatment and management. Read More

“By actively raising awareness, we can encourage people to engage in risk reduction measures, as well as better support people currently living with dementia,” Mr Butler said.

“There is a significant degree of stigma and fear around dementia which may cause many people to ignore legitimate concerns they have about their brain and cognitive function.

“This campaign will dispel some of the myths surrounding dementia and provide people with information to take action in response to any changes that may occur and impact upon their daily lives.”

The Minister also announced eight dementia research projects to be managed through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), as well as opening Round Four of the Dementia Community Support Grants Program. Applications close at 2pm, Tuesday 10 February 2011.

Gillard Government Releases Female Policy

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A new female health policy, released by the Gillard Government and reported in The Australian, warns that the ageing of the female population could have profound impacts on the health and Medicare systems. Projections indicate that women will make up an increasing proportion of the old and very old segment of the Australian population over time. Read More

"The ageing of the female population will have a significant impact on the Australian health system. For example, the burden of disease associated with dementia in women is estimated to double in the next 20 years," the policy document says.

The policy found anxiety and depression was the biggest burden on women's health, with 10% of the total burden.

Heart disease was next with 8.9%, followed by stroke 5.1%; type 2 diabetes 4.9%; dementia 4.8%; and breast cancer 4.8%.

Widespread support for health reform in Australia

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Over three-quarters of all Australians (76%) have shown support for the Gillard Government’s health reform agenda according to a new report released recently. The Menzies-Nous Australian Health Survey reports that Australians have a very positive view of their own health and are confident they will receive the best quality care. The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, welcomed the results as further evidence that the Government’s health reform agenda has widespread support.

The full survey results are available from the Menzies Centre for Health policy website.

ACQ Canberra Visit

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Dear Members

On 22 and 23 November Barry Ashcroft (Deputy CEO) and I travelled to Canberra for ACSA meetings, which included the CEOs from our equivalent organisations around Australia. We also spent a day at Parliament House lobbying federal politicians over Aged Care funding and policy reform.

The Productivity Commission's Inquiry into Caring for Older Australians Draft Report is due in late January 2011. The final report is due in June 2011. This means that any funding reform that flows from the review process may not take effect until the 2012-13 Federal Budget.

The meetings with politicians provided ACSA with the opportunity to stress that the industry cannot and should not reasonably wait 18 more months for additional funding. The meetings were, on the whole, constructive and they provided the basis for additional meetings once the Draft Report is released.

During the day I with met with five elected officials from both houses and from the government and opposition benches. The meeting with Shayne Neumann, Member for Blair, who is the Chair of Social Policy Caucus Committee was very constructive. Shayne will have significant influence on the future debate surrounding aged and community care and we look forward to working closely with him in this role. I also met with Scott Buchholz, the new member for Wright who expressed strong interest in aged care matters.

During the meetings we stressed:

the need for an additional 1.75% subsidy for all residential and community care services in the next federal budget (costed at $150M)
the need for an additional $10 per day for the Accommodation Charge in the light of increasing costs being meet by service providers, and;
an increase from 15% to 30% of the proportion of Extra Service places whilst maintaining the protections for concessional residents.

We also stressed that we are seeking an active partnership with consumers, unions and all sides of politics to ensure a strong basis for reform.

ACSA representatives met with the following MPs:

Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health and Ageing
Andrew Robb, Minster for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction
Adam Bandt, Federal Member for Melbourne
Kevin Andrews, Shadow Minister for Families, Housing and Human Services
Mitch Fifield, Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector
Senator Rachael Siewart, Greens Senator for Western Australia
Julie Bishop, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Trade
Senator Nick Xenophon, Independent Senator for South Australia
Scott Buchholz, Federal Member for Wright
Jo Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Shayne Neumann, Federal Member for Blair

Yesterday I also had the chance to meet in Brisbane with Senator Connie Fierravanti-Wells who is Shadow Minister for Ageing and the Shadow Minister for Mental Health. It was an excellent opportunity to explore the concerns of aged care providers in seeking funding and policy reforms.

I have included the information sheet provided to each MP.

Delivering on the Commitment to Reform Aged Care

Regards

Nick Ryan
Chief Executive Officer

Boost for Aged Care Nurses Training

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Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler today announced a new round of scholarships under the Supporting a Professional Aged Care Workforce Program.“The scholarships available under this program provide aged care nurses with training focussed on improving clinical care and creating career paths in aged care,” Mr Butler said.

Boost for Aged Care Nurses Training

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