Creation of permanent aged care commissioner role will strengthen advocacy for ageing survivors

The Healing Foundation’s calls for government to establish a permanent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care commissioner have been heard.

Federal Government has introduced legislation to establish a permanent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner – a move The Healing Foundation believes will serve a critical role in upholding the rights of ageing Stolen Generations Survivors and advocating for systems-level reform.

In 2021, The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety called for the creation of this position. The establishment of the Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner role in early 2024 was a crucial first step.

The Healing Foundation Board Chair Professor Steve Larkin (Kungarakan) said the permanent Commissioner position will ensure the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, especially ageing Stolen Generations survivors, are not forgotten in the aged care sector.

“This role is critically important for survivors and ensuring their urgent needs are heard by government,” he said.

“Too often plans are made at a government-level about funding, service provision and policy without proper consultation with the people who are affected most by its decision making.

“Enshrining the commissioner position in legislation will guarantee Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, especially survivors, will have a voice in the aged care sector.”

A new interim commissioner

The Healing Foundation welcomes Kamilaroi/Gamilaroi woman Jodi Cassar who has been appointed as the new Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner, to lead Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care reform through to the appointment of a permanent Commissioner.

She will build on former interim commissioner Andrea Kelly’s work and the consultation that underpins it.

During her time as commissioner, Ms Kelly released a report advocating for several critical reforms in aged care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The report found that survivors face administrative, financial and systematic barries to accessing aged care, including the lack of trauma aware and culturally safe services. The report made specific recommendations for Stolen Generations survivors on delivering trauma-informed aged care.

Government responds to report

This week, the Federal Government released its response to the commissioner's report, asserting work to address its recommendations were underway, but ‘there is more work to do’.

The Healing Foundation is supportive of governments response. We will continue working with the commissioner to advocate for survivors to address their urgent needs. 

Government can act quickly to action immediate reform that would provide relief for survivors, including:

 Exempting means testing of Stolen Generations redress schemes across all aged care services and supports.

The removal of co-payments, particularly for every-day- living in-home-supports within the Support at Home program.

Delivering culturally safe assessments and care across all aged care services and reducing barriers to access aged care services and supports.

A culturally safe, independent voice

Professor Larkin said it was encouraging to see the government commit to implement one of the many recommendations from the Royal Commission, in the creation of the permanent role.

He said it was evident in the last year of working with the interim commissioner that progress could be made for survivors.

“Ms Kelly has been a staunch advocate for Stolen Generations survivors. She has spent the time in the communities, engaged with survivors directly, The Healing Foundation, and Stolen Generations organisations, to be able to truly understand the needs in this space,” he said.  

“This is what makes a real difference – when we are talking about ageing survivors, it is so important they can share their stories and experiences with a safe person.

“We look forward to working with the new interim commissioner Ms Cassar and welcome the government’s decision to implement a permanent Commissioner.”

A crucial link for survivors

On May 26 this year (National Sorry Day) The Healing Foundation launched its action plan From Sorry to Action: a plan to act on Bringing them home. The plan calls on leaders to take coordinated and urgent action across key areas, including health, social and emotional wellbeing, ageing, records access, redress and acknowledgements, education, research and data, sector support, governance and accountability.

The action plan has outlined a series of specific actions in the aged care sector, with the vision of delivering culturally safe and fully subsided, equitable aged care, health and community services.

Earlier this year The Healing Foundation also welcomed government’s plan to reverse its plan to charge for basic care needs including showering, dressing and continence care and a decision to exempt Stolen Generations Redress Scheme payments from residential aged care means and asset testing. 

Professor Larkin said the dedicated First Nations aged care commissioner role has been a crucial link in facilitating reform that is benefitting ageing survivors such as changes to asset testing and aged care costs.

“We are making real progress. Our action plan launched this year will help guide our work moving forward and we will continue working with the interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner to advocate for the aged care needs of Stolen Generations survivors,” he said.