Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) CEO Sean Rooney says the situations such as those raised by the 7.30 Report are “not acceptable”, but has reinforced that the actions taken by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (AACQA) show that the aged care regulatory system is working.

In a press release, he notes that only nine of the 445 aged care facilities in Queensland are currently responding to non-compliance notices, while the rate of complaints in the state for 2017 was 569 for 51,493 beds – less than 1% (0.015%).

Mr Rooney also underlined that the issue of providing care is “not as simple as the number of staff on duty, or arbitrary staffing ratios” and a national funding solution is needed.

“We need to design and develop a sustainable funding strategy underpinned by detailed research, analysis and modelling. Funding options for consideration should include examples from other countries, such as national insurance schemes, taxpayer levies, user-pays models, taxation concessions/supplements and the like,” he said.

As we reported here last week, the LASA CEO is currently running a briefing tour for the industry and has made it clear he expects action now.