ACSA has been running an Old, Frail and Invisible campaign to highlight the cuts throughout the Federal Election. They have been winning support where it strategically counts.
ACSA Policy Advisor Heather Witham points to the fact that in the last election (2013) 56% of people over 65 voted Conservative and are rusted on while the balance basically voted Labor. This explains why ageing is not given the focus (and largesse that this large voter segment deserves).
Consequently the advocacy focus has been equally on the Independents and alternative parties.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon and the Greens are both responding with a call for a Senate Inquiry into the $1.2 billion cuts to the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) announced in Mays Federal Budget.
The Senators support to oppose the measures offers a life line to aged care providers, who are extremely concerned about what the cuts will mean for those frail older residents with high needs in their care, Aged & Community Services SA & NT CEO Melissa Centofanti (pictured with Nick Xenophon) said.
ACSA National CEO Adj Prof John Kelly also welcomed the release of the Greens Supporting Older Australians policy, which includes ACSAs campaign for a finalised National Aged Services Workforce Strategy as part of its plan.
Second photo: Tasmanian Independent Andrew Wilkie
