Wintringham Welcomes Aged Care Portfolio Elevation

MEDIARELEASE

Wintringham welcomes aged care portfolio elevation

13December 2011

The elevation of the aged care portfolio to Cabinet is an important step in meeting the challenges of an ageing population in Australia, and a win for older Australians from disadvantaged backgrounds according to specialist aged care provider Wintringham.

Bryan Lipmann, Wintringham CEO, congratulated Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, on his track record in advocating for older Australians, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Mr Butler had presided over important reforms in aged care that benefited people from homeless and disadvantaged backgrounds, Bryan Lipmann said. “Through Mark Butler’s efforts the last Federal budget made provisions to address the unintended financial disadvantages experienced by services assisting people with a homeless background under the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI). It is anticipated that a long term funding solution will follow.”

Lipmann, who has recently joined the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Council on Homelessness (MACH), notes that, “Mark Butler has taken the time to get to know the aged care sector as a whole, not just the mainstream services. He has given strong support to Wintringham in our efforts to cater for the many older Australians who don’t have the financial means to pay accommodation bonds,” Lipmann said.

“We are pleased the issues of mental health and ageing have received due recognition and will now be dealt with at a Cabinet level, as one of the most challenging and important social and political issues confronting Australia. The decision will hopefully result in a more just and equitable policy approach to aged care that ensures all older people have access to safe, secure and high quality services.”

Mr Lipmann also congratulated Tanya Plibersek and Mark Arbib who, together with Mark Butler, will bring a deep and compassionate understanding of homelessness issues to the new Cabinet.