Advocacy in Aged Care Takes a Step Forward

A nationally consistent approach to the delivery of aged care advocacy services to help those ‘lost in the system’ is a step closer with the development of the draft National Aged Care Advocacy Framework and today’s opening of the National Aged Care Advocacy Program funding round.

The Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, MP, said feedback from the aged care sector is helping to shape how advocacy services can better empower people to exercise choice and control within the aged care system. 

“Consumers increasingly have more choice and a greater say over how they access aged care services,” Minister Wyatt said.

“Advocacy providers work one-on-one with older people and their families, particularly the more vulnerable groups in our community, to help them understand their aged care options so they can make informed choices.

“The National Aged Care Advocacy Framework is a key finding of the recent review of Commonwealth aged care advocacy services.

The Framework will support the successful advocacy provider or providers from the current open funding round to deliver high quality advocacy services that are more consistent and streamlined, through the redesigned National Aged Care Advocacy Program.”

Minister Wyatt said consultation and co-design have been an important part of the process.

“Late last year, we asked key aged care stakeholders for their views on an early draft of the Framework and received more than 30 submissions from advocacy providers and peak organisations representing consumers, aged care providers and special needs groups,” he said. 

“I welcome the important feedback from stakeholders which has informed this stage of the development process, and many of the views put forward identified the need for the Framework to be flexible so it can meet local needs and adapt to future aged care reforms. 

“The groups also raised other matters for further consideration and we will continue to work through these matters with successful providers and key stakeholders as part of this process. 

“I want to thank everyone involved for their submissions because their work will make the National Aged Care Advocacy Program stronger and provide better support to older members of our community who seek their help.

“We will continue to work with the successful provider or providers from the National Aged Care Advocacy Program open funding round and other key stakeholders to finalise the Framework.”

Information on how to apply for the open funding found can be found here. 

Search for residential aged care in: