COTA Australia welcomes the development of a new research centre at Flinders University in Adelaide aimed at finding ways to improve the delivery of aged care in Australia.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Senator Richard Colbeck, today announced $34 million in funding for the Aged Care Centre for Growth and Translational Research at Flinders University, which aims to transform the way Australia supports its ageing society by making research relevant and appropriate, so it’s used to improve services and lives.
The funding is part of the Federal Government’s response to the recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission.
COTA Australia Chief Executive, Ian Yates, said the new centre is an exciting development – one which was originally proposed by the Aged Care Workforce Taskforce in its report ‘A Matter of Care’, and then supported by the Aged Care Royal Commission.
“Bringing older Australians, the aged care industry and the country’s brightest researchers together to look at ways to improve service delivery for older Australians is incredibly exciting and long overdue,” Mr Yates said.
“The centre has identified dementia, restorative care and rehabilitation, mental wellbeing, and social isolation as key priority areas for the centre in its first year, and we’re looking forward to ensuring that the voice of older Australians is central to that research.”
Mr Yates said COTA Australia had actively supported the Flinders University proposal for the Centre and has committed to partnering with the research centre to deliver its important work.
“COTA Australia is looking forward to working closely with the new research centre to help facilitate engagement with the centre by both consumer and provider organisations, and potentially facilitate partnerships in projects and research.
“Having the voice of older people and their families at the heart of research and development into these areas is crucial.
“Tapping into the valuable and under-utilised resource of older people who have lived experience of the aged care system as direct consumers, or as informal or family carers, will help shape an aged care system that truly delivers for older Australians.
“Investment into research of this nature will be vital in helping older Australians lead better lives.
“The Federal Government should be congratulated for funding this vital initiative as part of its comprehensive aged care reform package.”
