St Vincent’s – Australia’s largest not for profit health and aged care provider – today welcomed the bipartisan agreement on aged care reform and urged its swift passage through the Parliament.

“Today’s agreement smooths the way for the most impactful changes to aged care in a long time,” CEO of St Vincent’s Care – the organisation’s aged care arm – Lincoln Hopper said.

“This ground-breaking agreement will create a system that allows older Australians to remain in their home for as long as they can. It guarantees sufficient funding for quality care delivered by a skilled workforce. And it provides access to the capital needed to build new facilities and drive innovation in new models of care. 

“It will raise standards and ensure the system can be adequately funded to deliver the aged care our parents and grandparents deserve and need. Now and in the future. 

“Importantly, both sides of politics have agreed to a plan that maintains fairness as a core tenet of Australia’s aged care system.

“Now the Parliament must do its job and swiftly pass these reforms.

“Since the Royal Commission there have been many much-needed rapid changes to the aged care system: 24/7 nurses, greater transparency, and stronger regulations.

“Agreeing to a fair model that provides a source of sustainable funding is the last piece of the puzzle we need to create an aged care system we can all be proud of – today and for the next generation,” Mr Hopper said.

St Vincent’s – which operates 26 residential aged care homes in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, along with independent living facilities – congratulated and thanked the Prime Minister, the Minister for Aged Care, the Leader of the Opposition, and Shadow Minister for Health for coming together to reach this agreement.

“It might have taken longer than we’d have liked, but both sides of Parliament have put the needs of older Australians first in reaching this agreement,” Mr Hopper said.

“The Government and Opposition have sided with older Australians, the aged care sector, and consumer advocates in stating that we can have an aged care system where older Australians access their preferred model of high-quality care – whatever their income,” said Mr Hopper.

Media contact: Paul Andrews 0409 665 495