This Royal Commission will primarily look at the quality of care provided in residential and home aged care to senior Australians, and include young Australians with disabilities living in residential aged care settings.

It is about 12 months since South Australia’s Oakden aged care facility was closed. When the Oakden tragedy was revealed publicly in May 2017, Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt commissioned a review into quality across the aged care sector and asked for increased inspection and compliance work. As a result the Department of Health has closed about one aged care service per month, with an increasing number under sanction to improve their care.

I have visited many wonderful residential aged care facilities across our electorate and note their ongoing commitment to quality and improvement. But incidences across Australia of older people being hurt, by failure of care, cannot be excused. We must be aware of how widespread these cases are and about the care given to younger Australians living in these facilities.

As a community we expect high standards for the quality and safety of aged care services. Our government shares these expectations. The commission will determine what we need to do to ensure these expectations can be met.

Evidence shows the problems are not restricted to for profit or not for profit, large or small facilities, regional or major metropolitan. The Royal Commission will look at the sector as a whole, without bias or prejudice. It will make findings on the evidence. As a government, and a Parliament, it will be our job to act on these findings together. The Commission will not impact any existing or planned actions to improve the standards and quality of care provided in aged care facilities. 

If you or a family member have immediate concerns please contact the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner on 1800 550 552 or lodge a complaint online.