Aged Care Sector Needs Single, Unified Body: Report
4 May 2011 at 5:56 pm
A new report calls for the creation of a single aged care authority in Australia to act on behalf of the sector.
The report called Is the sum greater than the parts? The value of a single industry aged care association says there are 13 state and national industry associations representing aged care providers, and moving to a single national body will reduce duplication and increase efficiency and will provide a greater voice for the aged care sector.
The report was commissioned by Aged & Community Care Victoria (ACCV) and Aged Care Queensland Incorporated (ACQI) and produced by business consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
According to the report, there are currently 10 industry association representing aged care providers at a State level and three national associations representing both for profit and Not for Profit providers and retirement villages.
The report proposes two new models for consideration: a federated model and a national model, both of which it says significantly outscore the current model in terms of assessing the key indicators.
Speaking on the report findings, PwC Director Sarina Fisher says the review is important to be able to develop a future vision for a coordinated industry operational approach.
Fisher says the two models presented in the report provide the foundations for a more sustainable industry advocacy voice, while still maintaining the local State-based support services valued by aged care providers nationally. She says both of the models represent an important move forward to a national industry association.
She says the report shows that removing the existing duplication at both State and national levels by moving to one of the recommended models will prove much more efficient.
Fisher says the biggest benefit of having a single representative industry association is the ability to have more impact at a national level and this awareness is so much greater when there is a very simple, consistent message coming from the sector.
Not for Profit aged care provider, Benetas has put its full support behind the report, calling for the creation of a single aged care association in Australia.
Benetas CEO and ACCV Board Member Sandra Hills says Aged & Community Care Victoria (ACCV) has proved successful as the single representative body in Victoria since its creation in 2006, resulting in a wealth of opportunities in relation to training, reference groups and resources.
Hills says the ACCV business model has truly strengthened the Victorian industry and the model needs to be applied at a national level, as the aged care industry works its way through this incredibly critical time for aged care in Australia.
She says the sector must rise to the challenge put by Minister for Ageing Mark Butler to speak with a united voice.
Hills says Benetas values the support from the current national bodies, however they believe the time has come to have a united voice, and the existence of multiple peak bodies is not the best way to achieve this.
PwC Director Sarina Fisher points to brands like the Australian Medical Association (AMA), the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Alzheimers Australia as being very strong brands which represent a unified voice, showing how effective a sector can de if they come together at a national level.
The full report, as well as a video outlining the report is available to view on the report website www.agedcareunited.com.au.
An online poll is also being conducted on the website to determine reader’s responses to the statement:
It is time for aged and senior service providers, ACSA, ACAA and RVA to work together as a priority to create a new united Australian aged and senior services association, representing the entire industry?
