Senior Counsel Assisting Peter Rozen QC (pictured above) has outlined the need for the sector to engage its workforce and residents so that innovation and technology is used in a way that supports person-centred care.

In a brief 12-minute address, Mr Rozen told the Commissioners they will hear over the next two days of workshops that this can only happen if staff and older people are involved in the development, testing and adoption of new technologies.

Noting that the Royal Commission’s terms of reference require the Commissioners to look at both innovative models, the increase use of technology and example of good practice, the Senior Counsel revealed that the workshops would hear from four panels of witnesses as well as from direct evidence witnesses and two overseas experts.

“In this workshop, we propose to assist you to investigate the solutions available to address the issues with data to improve quality and safety outcomes for residents of aged care,” he said. “We will explore what data should be sourced. What standards should apply? How should data be collected and from whom?”

Mr Rozen also stated that the workshop would look at the applications of data.

“How can good quality, standardised data be analysed and interpreted by researchers and policy analysts to improve service delivery?” he asked rhetorically. “Who should be the custodian of the data collection and management process? Can data be applied to improve corporate governance by providers and oversight by government?”

Finally, the Senior Counsel touched on the impact of the coronavirus on the Royal Commission proceedings, including the precautionary step to ban the public from attending hearings and workshops in person.

Mr Rozen added that witnesses who are receiving aged care services, work in the aged care system or are in contact with those people will also be encouraged to give evidence via video link.

“We acknowledge that this may detract from the free discussion of ideas and propositions that these workshops are designed to encourage,” he admitted. “We ask for the public’s forbearance and that of the Commissioners.”

It was then onto the first witnesses.