Older Persons Advocacy Network

Under the new Aged Care Act, which comes into effect on 1 July 2025, providers will have a positive duty to understand and deliver services to older people in line with the Statement of Rights.  The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will have additional powers to address breaches of those rights, and older people will be able to make a direct complaint to a new independent complaints commissioner about a provider acting in a way that is incompatible with their rights. View the replay of the Statement of Rights webinar in our ongoing series – the New Aged Care Act: what it means for you https://lnkd.in/gtYhZ2nK or visit our dedicated new Aged Care Act webpage https://lnkd.in/gpVUjTpp

Older age is one of the biggest risk factors for severe illness from infectious respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza. Aged care residents are particularly vulnerable because of pre-existing health conditions, complex care needs and close living arrangements.   Vaccination remains the best form of protection against the impacts of COVID-19 and influenza. Find out more at: https://lnkd.in/gqzWyJme

𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 | 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 In the lead-up to the implementation of the new Aged Care Act, OPAN will be delivering a series of webinars to help older people understand the changes. Last month, a panel of experts spoke about the Statement of Rights and what it means for you. ‘What we are hoping, as older people, is that we see this whole movement of rights as a cultural shift,’ Aged Care Council of Elders and Aged Care Transition Taskforce Chair Anne Burgess said. ‘The more older people feel they're being listened to, they will expect that of everybody. And so we are hoping that we'll see a much stronger response from everybody about listening deeply to older people, respecting their wishes, and providing the services that they require.’ Replay the webinar, read the transcript and explore the resources here: https://lnkd.in/gtYhZ2nK

Everyone has the right to make decisions about their life and aged care. The new Aged Care Act enshrines older people’s right to make decisions about the care and services they receive and the risks they are willing to take in legislation. Join our webinar as we explore supported decision-making and supporters in the new Aged Care Act. For more information and to register, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/g6BbQ-gx

‘A rights-based Age Care Act moves us away from a business-centred model that treats older people as if they are widgets in a factory to one where aged care exists for one purpose: to care for older people,’ National Older Women’s Network President and National Older Persons Reference Group member Beverly Baker said in our recent webinar – New Aged Care Act: what it means for you. A Statement of Rights has been embedded into the primary legislation of the new Act, which comes into effect on 1 July 2025. Providers will have a positive duty to understand and deliver services to older people in line with those rights. ‘Ensuring those rights are enforceable, accessible and complete means older people can live their lives with dignity and respect,’ Ms Baker said.   ‘It’s absolutely vital these rights are so deeply embedded in the legislation that they can't be picked off.’ View the replay of the Statement of Rights webinar in our ongoing series – the New Aged Care Act: what it means for you https://lnkd.in/gtYhZ2nK or visit our dedicated new Aged Care Act webpage https://lnkd.in/gpVUjTpp

Enhance your skills today to support older people at risk of or experiencing abuse with free online training for health and allied health professionals from OPAN – the national peak body for individual aged care advocacy. This training now includes 2 additional sections: •Coercive control •A health professional’s perspective: occupational therapist Find out more at https://lnkd.in/gwAvcR77 

OPAN continues to raise the voices of older people in consultations on the subordinate legislation for the new Aged Care Act, or Rules. We made a number of recommendations in our last 2 submissions on the draft Rules for Funding (2b) and Provider Obligations (3). For a comprehensive list of our submissions, visit our website https://lnkd.in/gCyUn28A 

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) offers free, confidential and independent information and advocacy support for older people seeking or receiving government-funded aged care services.  To chat with us, call the Aged Care Advocacy Line 1800 700 600 or visit opan.org.au  #OPANAU #OlderPersonsAdvocacyNetwork #AgedCareAdvocacyLine #advocacysupport 

Advocates across the OPAN network have welcomed the inclusion of the Statement of Rights, which includes rights like independence, autonomy, and respect for privacy, in the new Aged Care Act. ‘I believe it's the shield against fear, discrimination, and abuse,’ Darwin Community & Legal Services advocacy manager Kellie Streeter said. The new Act provides the sector with the legislative building blocks we need to: • improve aged care quality and safety • better protect the rights of older people • ensure the financial sustainability of the aged care sector for generations to come. Visit our website to learn more about what will change in the new Aged Care Act https://lnkd.in/gpVUjTpp 

Save the date | OPAN Supported decision-making webinar Everyone has the right to make decisions about their life and aged care. The new Aged Care Act enshrines older people’s right to make decisions about the care and services they receive and the risks they are willing to take in legislation. Join our webinar as we explore supported decision-making and supporters in the new Aged Care Act. For more information and to register, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/g6BbQ-gx