The Albanese Labor Government has appointed new Chair, Deputy Chair and members of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Advisory Council, which supports Australia’s independent regulator of aged care.
Ms Leanne Kearins commenced a four-year term as Chair in January. She brings a wealth of health and aged care experience to the role, having previously served in executive roles at Queensland’s Health Quality and Complaints Commission, Seqwater and Actrua. She currently sits on the board of the Older Persons Advocacy Network and chairs its Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.
The current Chair, Ms Margot Richardson, will serve in the new position of Deputy Chair for an interim 4-month period while an ongoing appointment is finalised.
Ms Fiona Cornforth and Professor Edward Strivens have been appointed as new members to the Advisory Council, while Mr Andrew Brown and Ms Julie Dundon have been re-appointed as members, all for four-year terms.
Together, they bring a wealth of experience from the public, private, health and aged care sectors, including regulation, administrative reviews, investigations, education, leadership governance, nutrition and dietetics, food services and geriatric medicine.
The Council provides advice and makes recommendations to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner and the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors on the operations of the national aged care regulator.
For more information on the work of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, visit www.agedcarequality.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae:
“I congratulate Ms Kearins on her appointment as Chair of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Advisory Council and look forward to her leadership of this important body.
“The Aged Care Quality and Safety Advisory Council provides invaluable advice to Government and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner and Complaints Commissioner to ensure the rights of older people accessing aged care services are upheld and their safety, health and wellbeing always come first.
“As we continue to embed the new Aged Care Act across the sector, the role of the Advisory Council will be more important than ever. I welcome the opportunity to work with Ms Kearins and new Council members as they support the Commission to uphold the rights of older Australians.”