The Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, has appointed three new members to the Aged Care Sector Committee.
Ms Jody Currie has been appointed to the Committee as an ex-officio member, representing the National Advisory Group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care.
Ms Currie has expertise on the special needs of senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia’s aged care system, and is Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane.
Professor John Pollaers OAM has been appointed to the Committee as an ex-officio member as Chair of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee.
Professor Pollaers has expertise and outstanding achievements in supporting the aged care workforce sector and broader education, including as Chair of the Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce (2017-2018.
The Chief Executive Officer of National Seniors Australia Professor John McCallum has been appointed to the Committee, following the retirement of the former CEO of National Seniors Australia, Ms Dagmar Parsons.
Professor McCallum attended Committee meetings throughout 2018 as Interim CEO of National Seniors Australia. He brings extensive experience as a health and ageing researcher and has led more than 20 research reports related to the quality of life for older Australians.
The Aged Care Sector Committee was established in 2014 and works closely with the Australian Government to develop and implement aged care policy.
The Committee’s membership comprises representatives from peak bodies, for-profit and not-for-profit providers, and consumer and workforce representatives. It provides the foundation for ongoing partnership and collaboration between the aged care sector and the Australian Government.
The Minister welcomes the appointment of the new Committee members. The appointments build on the Committee’s strong collaboration with the Morrison Government ensuring aged care policy is informed by a wide range of the views and experience to continue to address the needs of Australia’s ageing population.
In an important step to address the diverse needs of senior Australians, Minister Wyatt last month launched four action plans under the Aged Care Sector Committee’s Aged Care Diversity Framework.
The action plans guide aged care providers and others in the sector on delivering respectful, inclusive and culturally safe services to:
- Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
- Senior culturally and linguistically diverse people;
- Senior lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, and intersex elders; and
- All diverse groups.
