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Catholic Health Australia is a membership-based organisation, representing Australia’s largest non-government grouping of hospitals, aged and community care services. Members operating services within the Aged Care sector account for over 27,000 residential aged care beds, more than 25,000 home support consumers and over 28,000 home care package consumers.
This Aged Care Policy Operational Plan is the result of detailed and deliberative consultation with a range of representatives across the membership with content validated through a facilitated workshop of CEOs and leaders representing members across Australia. Each organisation was represented by the CEO or their delegate, representing senior executive members operating in the aged care sector.
This Plan outlines several focus areas and associated actions for CHA’s aged care advocacy agenda over the period 2023-2025. It will be a guide to how we address what is important long-term and don’t get side-tracked by immediate ‘crisis’ issues.
It was evident that stakeholders have high regard for the collaborative approach and constructive advocacy approach taken by CHA, appreciating that CHA is known to get access to key policy and decision-makers to present evidence-based, realistic solutions to identified problems.
Most stakeholders acknowledged and valued the overarching role CHA plays in presenting solutions-focused views or critical analysis of government policies without fear of recriminations to individual operators. In general, members are looking for CHA to operate as a trusted partner and advocate, a go-between of government and policy makers making changes/decisions to the realities being experienced by those on the ground.
The role of CHA and how it conducts itself is discussed under Role of CHA. This Plan also outlines priorities to support Member identified objectives and a stronger, more human-centred, aged care sector under the following four focus areas:
- Advocacy & Policy
- Workforce
- Financial Sustainability
- Collaboration
The long-held tradition of caring for the vulnerable and providing service to those who need it, particularly the aged, sets CHA members apart from the for-profit sector and should continue to be a core part of CHA’s narrative.
