Statement by Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot, on police checks
The Department of Health and Ageing reported 39 out of 4,468 aged care services were unable to meet their police check requirement last year.
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23 May 2008
The Department of Health and Ageing reported 39 out of 4,468 aged care services were unable to meet their police check requirement last year.
The Department’s Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance assisted 38 out of the 39 services to meet the requirements. There was only one aged care service that failed to comply and it closed on 19 May 2008.
Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot said Australia’s aged care facilities and services were required to comply with the police checks procedures.
Mrs Elliot said the police checks – introduced by the previous government and supported by the Rudd Government had resulted in the termination of employees. She said she had received representations about the matter.
Mrs Elliot made the comments in response to a request from News Limited publications about police checks in aged care.
“I make no apologies for protecting the most vulnerable members of our society – the frail and aged and I stand by the police checks.
“In fact, that is why on February 21, I announced plans to strengthen the current protocols and protections for nursing home residents,” Mrs Elliot said.
Currently only staff with unsupervised access to residents are required to have police checks.
Mrs Elliot said she wanted police checks to be extended to all employed staff from accredited aged care facilities – those who have both supervised and unsupervised access.
More than 116,000 people are employed as direct care workers (nurses, personal carers and allied health workers.
Drafting and consultations will mean the new protocols and guidelines could be in place later this year.
As part of the development of the guidelines, Mrs Elliot has asked the Department of Health and Ageing to consult with the relevant unions and peak body organisations to address any unforeseen implications of the police checks.
That consultation process is underway; however, they have already been welcomed. They include the National Seniors and Babcock and Brown Communities.
Mrs Elliot said: “I am unapologetic about the tough measures. Australia’s aged care providers in Australia have nothing to fear from the Australian Government’s plans to protect and improve the lives of residents in aged care facilities.
“The overwhelming majority of aged care providers are providing top quality care for our nation’s elderly. I have seen world-class facilities and programs in every state and territory, but I have also seen areas where improvement is needed.
“I am confident that the aged care industry, and the many older Australians it serves, will see the longer term benefits of a more transparent and accountable aged care industry,” Mrs Elliot said.
For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on (02) 6277 7280
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