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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Thursday, 11 March 2004) . . Page.. 1239 ..

Aged Care Advisory Council
(Question No 1384)

Mr Cornwell asked the Minister for Health, upon notice:

(1) Further to the reply to Question on notice No 722 regarding the new Aged Care Advisory Council and its role in relation to the A.C.T. Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing formed in July 2002, (a) what are the responsibilities and functions of each of these councils, (b) where do those responsibilities and functions differ or crossover and (c) how do the two councils operate in relation to, or support of, each other;

(2) How is the information that is provided to the A.C.T. Government by these two councils brought together to ensure that problems and issues relating to older people are dealt with in a coordinated and comprehensive manner across all ministerial portfolios.

Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is:

(1) (a) The role of the Aged Care Advisory Council (ACAC) is to assist the Minister for Health develop policies that provide appropriate health and community care services for older people and their carers in the ACT. The ACAC assists the Minister for Health and ACT Health in the planning and funding of aged health and community care services.

The Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing (MACA) provides high quality, objective and responsive advice to assist the ACT Government in:

• developing and implementing policies for the advancement of older people in the ACT community;

• meeting the Government’s commitment to foster positive ageing and a sense of well-being; and

• ensuring that older Canberrans feel safe and valued, and that they have access to appropriate programs and services.

(b) The ACAC’s advice focuses on important health issues for the ACT’s older community. The main areas identified by the ACAC include:

• aged care (including residential aged care);

• post hospitalisation; and

• frail older people (including the fragmentation of community services:.

The MACA’s advice concentrates on broad positive ageing issues affecting people in three main areas:

• healthy and meaningful ageing;

• transport, accommodation and planning; and

• employment, education and training.

(c) The ACAC and the MACA have established a reciprocal working relationship, with a representative from each council attending meetings for the other. Feedback from the MACA is a standing item on the agenda for ACAC meetings.

(2) Cross representation between the ACAC and the MACA ensures that comprehensive and strategic advice is provided to the ACT Government on a broad range of social and health issues affecting older people in the ACT. As noted above, the ACAC focus on health specific issues while the MACA focus on positive ageing. Reporting from each council draws on input from the other via this cross representation.

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