Media Hub

October 2008

30 October 2008

Statement on Nutrition Study in Queensland Nursing Homes

Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot today described independent research by Queensland University of Technology published in the Australasian Journal of Ageing on the nutrition of nursing home residents as “disturbing”.

30 October 2008

Central Coast Nursing Home – Notice of Non-Compliance

Last night (October 29), the Department of Health and Ageing issued a formal Notice of Non-Compliance to Peninsula Village Retirement Centre

29 October 2008

Further NSW transitional care places rolled out: Central Coast

The Australian Government today announced another six new transition places for the Central Coast, bringing the number of fully-funded places in the region to 56. This means up to 420 older people a year living on the NSW Central Coast will get assistance to help them regain their independence after a major hospital stay.

29 October 2008

Thursday Island nursing home statement

The independent Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency is conducting a Full Review Audit of Star of the Sea to ensure proper resident welfare and safety at the Thursday Island facility at the tip of Cape York.

23 October 2008

Aged Care Nursing Scholarships

The Australian Government today announced improvements to its $36 million Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Scheme – including $5,000 a semester to cover course costs, travel, lodging, textbooks and other equipment for postgraduate study.

23 October 2008

Peninsula Village Retirement Centre

The Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot today asked the independent Aged Care Commissioner to examine the Department of Health and Ageing’s handling of previous complaints at a Central Coast nursing home facility.

22 October 2008

Tribute to George Stott Bilbie: Australia’s Oldest Practising Solicitor

Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot today paid tribute to George Stott Bilbie, Australia’s oldest practising lawyer – who died this week at the age of 100.

21 October 2008

Aged care police checks – in place as early as January 1

The Australian Government plans to introduce police checks for all nursing home staff – as early as January 1, 2009.

21 October 2008

Australian Government announces 7,700 extra training places for aged care workers: Preparing for our ageing population

Up to 7,700 new training places over four years in aged and community care will be created under a $41 million training plan – as part of the Rudd Government’s response to the challenges of Australia’s ageing population.

20 October 2008

UPDATE: Round Two of Zero Real Interest Loans and Associated Places (2009-2010)

The Department of Health and Ageing has begun working on Round Two (2009-10) of the Australian Government’s $300 million Zero Real Interest Loans and Associated Places.

20 October 2008

Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Aged Care

The Australian Government has announced the Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Aged Care.

20 October 2008

Carers to benefit from $12 million local grants

The Australian Government has announced a $12 million national grants program to improve respite services for carers in their communities.

16 October 2008

Rudd Government Takes Action on Delays to Assess Older Australians for Aged Services: ACATS and $72.16 Million Injection

Thousands of elderly Australians waiting to receive aged and community care will get faster services under two major measures announced today by the Australian Government.

16 October 2008

New Legislation: Further Financial and Bond Protection for Aged Care Residents

This morning (October 16), the Rudd Labor Government will introduce legislation to provide further protection for the 170,000 older Australians in the nation’s nearly 3,000 aged care homes.

15 October 2008

Lump Sum Payments Protected – Straight To Nursing Home Residents

Pensioners who live in the nation’s 3,000 nursing homes will keep their entire lump sum payment, the Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot said. Mrs Elliot made the comments to re-assure nursing home residents and their families following speculation this morning that the one-off payments would go to nursing home owners. “This is totally incorrect. The one-off payment goes to all pensioners – including those who live in nursing homes,” Mrs Elliot said. “Nursing home owners will not be allowed to increase their fees – so all of the one-off bonus will go straight into the pensioner’s pockets.

14 October 2008

$546 Million to Improve Home and Community Care in NSW

More than 210,000 older Australians and people with disabilities living in NSW will receive more help at home, personal and respite care, home modifications, community transport and social support.

13 October 2008

Aged Care Approvals Round Briefings 2008-09 – The round begins

Information sessions on the 2008-09 Aged Care Approvals Round will be conducted in all capital cities and a number of regional centres across Australia early next month.

13 October 2008

National site risk visits to all 30 Indigenous aged care services to identify safety risks and emergency works

This week, the Australian Government will begin to conduct national quality site visits to all 30 flexible Indigenous-specific aged care services so it can identify safety risks and the need for emergency works.

13 October 2008

Australia’s Oldest Documented Person Turns 112 Today

Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd and Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot today officially congratulated Australia’s oldest person Mrs Emily Beatrice “Bea” Riley on her 112th birthday.

11 October 2008

More Than $35 Million for More Services for Older South Australians

An additional 14,000 older South Australians and their carers will receive help at home, personal and respite care, home modifications, community transport and social support.

10 October 2008

WA nursing home under sanction

The Department of Health and Ageing has placed John Mercer Lodge – a nursing home in Fremantle WA – under sanction.

10 October 2008

First Charter of Rights for Older Australians Receiving Home Care

The nearly 56,000 older Australians who receive help at home through community aged care packages will get a greater say in the provision of their services - under the Rudd Labor Government.

04 October 2008

Nursing home under sanction in Glen Innes NSW

The Department of Health and Ageing has placed Glenwood Gardens – a nursing home in the NSW New England Highlands – under sanction.

03 October 2008

Re-location of Rosden Private Nursing Home residents completed

The last resident at Rosden Private Nursing Home was relocated to a different home today.

03 October 2008

Australian Government funding boost to leading experts in ageing

Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot announced $450,000 over three years in funding to the Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) – a not-for-profit professional association for more than 800 aged care experts.

02 October 2008

Unannounced visits – 1000th milestone reached today

As of 2 October, the independent Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency has conducted a record 1001 unannounced visits.

01 October 2008

Government strengthens protection for older Australians

Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot today announced that the Rudd Government will amend the Age Discrimination Act 2004 to remove the 'dominant reason' test. The current test means that a person's age must be the dominant reason for something to constitute discrimination under the Act. This is inconsistent with the other federal unlawful discrimination laws.