A report released this week by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the aged care system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The report, authored by Andrea Kelly, the Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner, reveals significant challenges faced by Indigenous elders and proposes a series of recommendations to address these issues.
The findings, based on extensive consultations across Australia, paint a concerning picture of the current aged care landscape. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people find the system culturally unsafe and difficult to navigate. The report also points out a lack of flexibility in services, leaving many elders disconnected from their Country as they age.
Key findings
1. The current aged care system is largely culturally unsafe and challenging for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access and navigate.
2. There is a lack of flexibility in services to respond to the unique needs of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
3. Many older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disconnected from Country as they age due to limited services in remote areas.
4. Stolen Generations survivors face additional challenges in accessing culturally safe aged care.
5. A significant lack of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific data hinders informed policy and program decisions.
6. Positive examples of culturally safe, trauma-aware, and healing-informed aged care exist, primarily provided by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).
The report makes four main recommendations
1. Publish the report in full to ensure transparency and acknowledge the voices of those consulted.
2. Develop a 10-year transformation plan, co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to articulate an aged care pathway that aligns with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
3. Give in-principle agreement to the proposed model for a permanent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner.
4. Progress time-sensitive and urgent recommendations to address immediate barriers in accessing aged care.
“Our elders deserve better. We need a system that respects their cultural needs and provides them with the dignity and care they deserve.”
Andrea Kelly, the Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner
One of the key recommendations is the establishment of a permanent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner. This independent, statutory position would be responsible for ensuring equitable access to high-quality, culturally safe aged care services for Indigenous elders. Ms Kelly’s role as Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner has been extended until June 2026.
Commenting on the report’s finding, Dr Sarah Thompson, a gerontologist specialising in Indigenous health said, “This is a crucial step towards addressing the longstanding inequities in our aged care system.”
“The proposed changes could significantly improve the quality of life for our Indigenous elders,” Ms Thompson added.
The consultation process for this report was extensive, involving over 135 engagements across all states and territories. Ms Kelly travelled more than 60,000km via commercial aircraft and 85,000km by road between February and June 2024, meeting with over a thousand people in remote, regional, and urban locations.
While the report acknowledges some positive changes since the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, progress has been slow. With the growing number of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the need for reform is becoming increasingly urgent.
The government is now expected to respond to the report’s recommendations. Indigenous community leaders are calling for swift action to implement the proposed changes and transform the aged care system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
