Nominations are now open for members of Australia’s first-ever Council of Elders, a panel of representatives charged with providing advice and feedback on aged care issues around the country.
Opening the nomination process, Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said the establishment of the Council was a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Mr Hunt said the Council was to provide advice to the Minister for Health and Aged Care and the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services as well as the soon-to-be-established National Aged Care Advisory Council (NACAC).
“The Council of Elders will ensure older Australians, and the issues they face, are at the heart of Australia’s generational reforms,” Mr Hunt said.
“The Council of Elders will have about 10 members appointed from nominations right across Australia, including rural, regional and remote areas,” he said.
“Successful nominees will represent the diverse life experiences and characteristics of senior Australians and bring the views and perspectives of others to the table.”
Mr Hunt said Council members would be independent of Government and must not be affiliated with aged care services providers.
The Minister said members would have a lived understanding of aged care and must be able to engage with their community, the Government and ministers on aged care reforms.
He said nominations to the Council of Elders were open until Friday 15 October.
Further information on the Council can be accessed at this PS News link.
