Strong need for a relationship reset between aged care sector and Government
You can read the full transcript of his piece HERE
Very strong words from Nick Loudon, founder of Envigor Home Care, in last weekend’s edition of SATURDAY. He takes aim at the lead bureaucrats responsible for aged care. He summed up his 1100-word Op-Ed:
“The unstated industry perspective is that currently there exists a dangerous combination of collective arrogance and incompetence within the leadership of the Department when it comes to establishing the optimal Aged Care System.”
He says the industry is strongly of the view that there needs to be a genuine reset.
“Failure to take a breath and reset now risks us as a country squandering the opportunity of a generation to do what is best by older people, as opposed to what strokes our egos, bolsters our career prospects and serves our political postures.”
Correctly he points out that the sector responded to critical comments from the Royal Commission about the need for one industry peak body when it established Aged and Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA), but that ACCPA was excluded from the Jobs and Skills Summit while several individual operators were included.
He says: “On face value, this is a deliberate slight on ACCPA and its members.”
The Royal Commission was correct – the sector does require one representative voice – but that voice has to be respected. This requires two inputs. The first is that all members of the sector must firmly support ACCPA and act as one. Second, ACCPA’s new CEO, Tom Symondson (who is not yet in the chair) must provide wise and balanced counsel to members and the Department. This can be summed up as building trust, and trust takes time to build. We believe it is very worthy of Nick to get the Department conversation out on the table. You can read the full transcript of his piece HERE.
