NATSIAACC has made a submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care on A New Aged Care Act: the foundations, Consultation paper No. 1. 

NATSIAACC is recommending cultural safety is an end-to-end requirement in the new Aged Care Act.

Importantly, with respect to the age of eligibility for aged care services, NATSIAACC strongly objected to the removal of flexibility and early access to aged care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This is because imposing age limits on access does not reflect the practicalities and real-life experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and providers. NATSIAACC requested further information and data to support the decision to remove early eligibility for aged care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

NATSIAACC strongly urged the Department to re-consider its approach in relation to the aged care eligibility criteria for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people We recommended that, once there is a system in place to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander older people, National Agreement on Closing the Gap targets are being met, and there is data demonstrating the need for beneficial changes to the eligibility criteria, there must be engagement with the sector to determine the direction for any changes to the eligibility criteria.

NATSIAACC also recommend the Department engage with NATSIAACC to assist with facilitating co-design of the implementation of, and transition to, the new Aged Care Act for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their aged care providers.

The full submission is available here: NATSIAACC Submission- New Aged Care Act – Foundations