Shadow Minister hears from aged care providers

Liberal Candidate for Robertson Ms Lucy Wicks and Shadow Minister for Ageing and Shadow Minister for Mental Health Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells have held a meeting at Woy Woy Community Aged Care to hear from aged care providers..

"These meetings are about hearing the concerns of aged-care providers first hand, to ensure our policies are effective and responsive to the needs of older Australians," said Ms Wicks.

"We sincerely thank Jennifer Eddy, CEO of Woy Woy Aged Care for hosting this event and providing Senator Fierravanti-Wells and I the opportunity to listen to providers of aged care services," she said.

Aged care providers from the Peninsula said they also found the meeting on Wednesday, January 30 with the Coalition's Aged Care spokesperson valuable.

"It was a great opportunity for service providers to outline issues of concern and participate in the Coalition's consultation process in the lead-up to the election," said Ms Eddy.

"Of particular interest was the opportunity to free up the legislative restraints that obstruct our ability to deliver care services where they are needed and to cut the level of documentation and reporting requirements that take our most skilled nurses away from direct resident care.

"The aged care industry on the Coast is closeknit. We help and support each other.

"We welcomed the pledge by Senator Fierravanti-Wells to deliver certainty to the industry so that we can deliver services to those in our care without the threat of funding cuts mid service," Ms Eddy said.

Senator Fierravanti-Wells said the Coalition's plan included a "sustainable" four-year agreement with the providers of aged care.

"This will meet the needs of an ageing population while providing choice, certainty, flexibility and vision.

"It will set the framework for real reform in the partnership with the aged care sector," she said.

Ms Wicks said: "Our ageing population is one of our biggest social challenges."

"If we are to enable a continued improvement in aged care, there has to be a consistent and reliable policy framework that provides certainty for providers," she said.

The forum also discussed the difficulties of service providers attracting staff, the constraints of excessive red tape and the lack of incentives to invest in aged care.

Ms Wicks said the Coalition was determined to deliver real solutions and to improve the quality of life for older Australians.

"She also pledged to continue to engage with the community and listen to their concerns, including by holding similar events in the future.

Media Release, 2 Feb 2013

Aileen Wiessner, Office of Lucy Wicks