I’m Ian Yates, the Interim Inspector-General of Aged Care.
I am honoured to take on this role and to have the opportunity to work with older Australians and the aged care sector to understand their experiences of aged care.
Through harnessing your knowledge and experience, my Office will be able to investigate the issues affecting aged care and recommend solutions which will drive positive change.
Through tackling long-standing and pervasive issues within the aged care system, I am confident we can steer a course towards an aged care system that meets the diverse needs of older Australians, their families and carers.
An aged care system that is accountable and transparent, and which the community can have confidence in.
The Inspector-General of Aged Care Bill, which has just been introduced to Parliament, is an integral part of achieving this.
The Bill will establish the Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care as an independent statutory body and provide the Inspector-General with the necessary powers to perform their role.
The Bill before Parliament has been informed by the views of the public and the aged care sector.
Submissions were received through December and January from a broad cross-section of aged care stakeholders. We received strong support for the Bill, and we thank you for your willingness to engage with the consultation and reform process.
Now the Bill is before the Parliament, we anticipate it commencing in the second half of this year.
Once established, the Inspector-General and Office will be separate from the Department of Health and Aged Care and the other government bodies responsible for administering and regulating aged care.
This will safeguard the Inspector-General’s independence and guarantee them the impartiality required to monitor, investigate and report on systemic issues across the aged care system without fear or favour.
In the meantime, as the Interim Inspector-General, supported by the Interim Office, I will continue to lead establishment of the new Office and my team and I will start delivering the work of the Inspector-General as far as we can. Watch this space…
To find out more about the Bill or keep up to date on its progress, you can visit the Department’s website and search for Inspector-General of Aged Care.
I thank you in advance for your support and look forward to working together to achieve better outcomes for older Australians receiving aged care, their families and the broader community.