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A broad coalition of aged care and community sector organisations are urging the Australian Government to build on its current reform agenda and commit to implementing a rights-based Aged Care Act that embeds older people's rights at its core.
Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) CEO Craig Gear said an aged care transformation sparked by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was a once in a lifetime opportunity to rebuild the sector based on prioritising the rights of older people.
"What everyone wants as they get older is to keep their independence and stay in control of their lives, as is their right, but currently the system does not support older people to do this," Mr Gear said.
"We've heard many instances of older people's rights being abused, disrespected and disregarded, in evidence to the Royal Commission and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Implementing a rights-based Aged Care Act was the top recommendation from Royal Commissioners, the Honourable Tony Pagone QC and Lynelle Briggs AO and must be the top priority in transforming Australia's aged care sector.
"The Australian Government has taken a number of really important steps in response to the Royal Commission, and we need them to take another crucial one.
"We're calling on the Australian Government to enable older Australians to exercise their rights by ensuring that a rights-based Aged Care Act gets developed and implemented, and we look forward to working with them to achieve this.
"Let's work together to implement a rights-based Aged Care Act by the Royal Commission deadline of July 2023."