Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner Andrea Kelly has urged the federal government to enact a series of critical reforms to improve aged care for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Ms Kelly's new report released Thursday, 'Transforming Aged Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people', outlines a range of findings and recommendations about the barriers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face to accessing aged care and the changes that need to be made for the system to meet their needs.
The findings were based on feedback received from older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and communities, service providers and peak bodies.
The report makes clear that the aged care system does not currently meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and needs urgent reform. It also outlines a path forward for a culturally safe, community-led aged care system based on thousands of hours of conversations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Recommendations from the report include: committing to a transformation plan, co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and informed by the Priority Reforms under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap; establishing a permanent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner and supporting office that is independent and can hold the aged care system to account; and an additional 27 urgent actions the Government should commit to as a priority.
Federal Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells has extended Ms Kelly's role as Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner until June 2026.
Ms Kelly was originally appointed in January 2024 and will use the next 18 months to establish an office for a permanent Commissioner and continue to advocate for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Commissioner has also released a Community Booklet that was informed by older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who met with her to share their experiences of aged care.
Ms Kelly said the recommendations in her report are clear.
"I call on the Australian Government to accept and act on them," she said.
"Without significant change including an equity-based approach, the aged care system will not meet the current or projected growth in demand of aged care services for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I have outlined a plan to achieve this, which starts with genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"I am hopeful the reforms underway will incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences and perspectives to meet their needs.
"I would like to thank all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and communities, service providers, advocates and representatives who I met with throughout the year."
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy the Commissioner's "commitment to making older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's voices heard is evident in the pages of this report".
"Older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the heart of our communities, and it is important that we treat them with the respect and dignity that they deserve as they age," she said.
Minister Wells, welcomed the report and its findings.
"The government is actively considering the recommendations and how they can be taken forward," she said.
"I am pleased to extend Ms Kelly in the role of Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner until June 2026. Ms Kelly will continue to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and perspectives are incorporated in the reforms currently underway."
The Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner's report and her illustrated booklet for community are available online.
