About the Council of Elders
The Council of Elders is a group of older people from across Australia with diverse backgrounds and lived experience of aged care.
The Australian Government established the Council of Elders in 2021 in response to Recommendation 9 of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Council of Elders members are appointed by government as a voice for older people, by older people.
Council members are appointed for 2-year terms, with the possibility of extension.
The role of council members
Council members are active in the community talking to older people about aged care and listening to what’s important to them when it comes to living and ageing well.
While council members bring their own lived experience and insights of aged care, their role is to gather feedback from older people in the community and provide advice to government about aged care and ageing.
For this reason, it is important that council members have strong connections in their local communities and are able to draw on these networks.
The council meets in person and online around 8 times each year.
The Council of Elders hear directly from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing about changes that are being made to aged care. Council members are regularly asked to review information and inform policy positions to make sure the perspectives and needs of older people are considered at every stage.
The council formulates its advice to government on specific aged care issues, and this advice is delivered directly to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, the Hon. Sam Rae MP.
Being a Council of Elders member is a unique opportunity to work closely with government to ensure the diverse voices of older people are heard on the issues that matter to them.
Learn more about the Council of Elders.
Application criteria
Several Council of Elders membership positions need to be filled, and we would like to encourage older people right across Australia to consider joining the council from January 2026.
Suitable applicants will be:
- 65 years or older with lived experience of aged care
- able to demonstrate how they are active in their communities, engaging with people about key issues, and
- interested in understanding how the aged care system works and keen to work collaboratively to improve care for all older people.
We are particularly keen to hear from older people whose experience of aged care may include:
- receiving services at home
- living in residential aged care
- caring for an older person or working in aged care
- living with dementia
- living in rural or remote locations
- diverse communities including LGBTIQA+, First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, and people with disability.
How to apply
To apply to become a Council of Elders member please complete the following:
- An expression of interest no longer than one page (approx. 500 words) outlining your lived experience and why you’d like to join the Council of Elders.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) template
- Private Interests Declaration form.
Please email your application, CV and Private Interests Declaration form to CouncilofElders@health.gov.au
Applications close 5pm, Friday 26 September.
Next steps
All applications will be considered and assessed over the coming weeks.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of Expression of Interest later this year.
Contact
