Government Appoints Assoc Commissioner To Aged Care Inquiry
20 May 2010 at 1:32 pm
The Rudd Government has appointed Sue Macri as Associate Commissioner to the Productivity Commission inquiry into aged care in Australia.
Macri will assist the Commission in its inquiry to develop options for further structural reform of the aged care system. The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry were announced by the Government in April.
The inquiry will look at a broad range of issues, including:
- the social, clinical and institutional aspects of aged care in Australia, the interests of special needs groups;
- regulatory and funding options for residential and community aged care (including the Home and Community Care program);
- the future workforce requirements of the aged care sector.
In the course of the inquiry, the Commission says it will consult widely with older Australians, their carers, aged care providers, government agencies and other interested parties.
Macri has more than a decade of experience as a Director of Nursing/CEO in the private hospital system, and has represented the aged care industry at both a state and national level on Ministerial working parties, committees and reviews including the Macri Panel on Nursing Home Documentation and Accountability Report, the National Review of Nursing Education and the National Nursing and Nursing Education Taskforce.
In 2007 she was named a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia, for service to the community in the area of aged care, particularly in the review and development of industry standards, accreditation and future management practices, and to nurse education and training. Ms Macri was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Australian Catholic University for her contribution to aged care and to nursing and nursing education and training.
The Commission will hold public hearings and release a draft report for public comment, before delivering a final report to the Government in April 2011.
For further information go to www.pc.gov.au
An appointment which is a very clear breach of conflict of interest.
The background also omits the fact that a large part of Ms Macri (alias’s Sue or Susanne) experience is in working for aged care providers or their representative groups.
For example, Macri sits on the Board of Directors for the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency, in addition to that, she is also a Director on the Board for RSL LifeCare (aged care provider), the War Vets Village, Narrabeen NSW (aged care provider). Up until recently, Macri was also the CEO for aged care provider group ACAANSW (Aged Care Association Australia NSW – one of the largest aged care employer groups in Australia), as well as Australian Nursing Homes and Extended Care Association NSW.
Another provider-friendly initiative was Macri’s chairing of late last year’s event held by her previous employer, ACAANSW titled “Are You Covered? Emerging Issues for Aged Care – Risk Management, Complaints, Compliance, Crisis Management and Litigation”. Interesting to note the multiple roles of Susanne Macri, who chaired a session at this talkfest targeted at providers late last year, sits on various aged care provider/industry Boards of Directors, as well as the Accreditation Agency. The only disclosure of Macri’s background at this talkfest was that of “Consultant, Health and Aged Care”.
One would hope that Macri’s aged care “industry” experience, including her consulting activities in health and aged care, won’t sway her towards favouring aged care providers/groups above all. Appointed people should have a balanced view – and experience to match.