In her first report, Andrea Kelly, who was appointed to the interim role just over a year ago, has made four recommendations for the Federal Government, plus another 27 "urgent and time sensitive" recommendations.
Kelly writes in the 108-page report that following consultations with more than 1,000 Australians last year, she has found "not enough has changed" for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety four years ago.
and Torres Strait Islander People report
"The aged care system has failed, and continues to fail, older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."
The report contains several case studies highlighting the system's failings, including one home care client being told to wear nappies while she waited "an unreasonably long time" for a toilet lift to be delivered.
In a statement, Kelly 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.
The "urgent and time sensitive" recommendations include:
- replicate and scale up positive examples of culturally safe aged care,
- reference cultural safety as a minimum standard for care in the new Aged Care Act, and
- ensure cultural safety training for all aged care workers addresses the specific needs of Stolen Generations survivors.
Kelly said there is "overwhelming support" for a permanent First Nations Aged Care Commissioner, proposing legislation to create the role of a permanent Commissioner be "commenced immediately".