Australian Ageing Agenda

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has appointed bureaucrat and Kamilaroi woman Jodi Cassar as the incoming Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner, who told AAA that she was “honoured” to be stepping into the role.

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Introducing the sector's new First Nations commissioner - Australian Ageing Agenda The department has appointed bureaucrat and Kamilaroi woman Jodi Cassar as the incoming Interim First Nations Aged Care.

Scalabrini Communities has appointed executive director of customer experience and marketing Adam Woods as the inaugural chief community and innovation officer, starting in the broadened role immediately.

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Woods to head Scalabrini community, innovation - Australian Ageing Agenda The customer experience and marketing executive said he is proud to work for an organisation that ‘puts its mission at the core of everything it does.’

Opal HealthCare has supported 18 refugee university students to complete professional internships since partnering with CareerSeekers in 2019, with many invited to stay on permanently.

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Skilled refugees find roles at Opal - Australian Ageing Agenda Opal HealthCare has supported 18 refugee university students to complete professional internships since partnering with CareerSeekers in 2019, with many invited to stay on permanently.

In case you missed it, this week’s aged care news included aged care providers welcoming the government’s last-minute change to Medicare reforms that looked likely to result in GPs stopping support for aged care residents, Sue Cooke discussed the importance of trust with AAA for the Leadership Talk 2026 series, Levande, BlueCare and Aveo celebrated their wins at the 2026 Property Council of Australia National Retirement Living Awards and skilled refugees found permanent roles following professional internships at Opal HealthCare.

Also this week, Filip Reierson looked at the new staffing star rating approach, Associate Professor Maree Bernoth discussed the need for a focus on older people in legislation on coercive control and Resthaven Marion occupational therapist Sam Hearn discussed a virtual reality community trial.

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After being named the most trusted brand in the Aged Care and Retirement Villages category at the Reader’s Digest Awards, Anglicare Southern Queensland CEO Sue Cooke tells AAA what the secret ingredients are for the latest Leadership Talk 2026 series.

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Consistency, authenticity key to building trust - Australian Ageing Agenda After being named the most trusted brand in the Aged Care and Retirement Villages category at the Reader’s Digest Awards, Anglicare SQ CEO Sue Cooke tells AAA what the secret ingredients are.

Aged care providers have welcomed the government’s last-minute change to Medicare reforms that looked likely to result in GPs stopping support for aged care residents.

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https://hubs.li/Q04l-Hl00

Peak welcomes GP bulk billing ‘win’ for residents - Australian Ageing Agenda Aged care providers have welcomed the government’s last-minute change to Medicare reforms that looked likely to result in GPs stopping support for aged care residents.

Moving into an aged care home can mean many changes for residents’ routines, surroundings, and mealtimes. What shouldn’t change, however, are residents’ rights to make their own decisions when it comes to end-of-life care. This includes voluntary assisted dying, or VAD, writes Go Gentle Australia CEO Dr Linda Swan.

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VAD is legal but info in aged care is scarce - Australian Ageing Agenda Aged care providers must offer clearer, more transparent information on voluntary assisted dying, writes Dr Linda Swan.

Mercy Health is celebrating the installation of solar panels across 24 of its homes as part of its ongoing commitment to reduce emissions and improve sustainability.

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Solar strengthens service resilience, says Mercy Health - Australian Ageing Agenda The not-for-profit provider is celebrating the installation of solar panels across 24 of its homes as part of its ongoing commitment to reduce emissions and improve sustainability.

Legislation on coercive control often focuses on women and children in domestic violence situations but fails to recognise the risk for older people too, Associate Professor Maree Bernoth tells AAA.

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Identifying when care becomes control - Australian Ageing Agenda Legislation on coercive control often focuses on women and children in domestic violence situations but fails to recognise the risk for older people too, Associate Professor Maree Bernoth tells AAA.

The numbers about aged care wait times are no longer surprising but deeply frustrating. We weren’t short on warnings about the iceberg – we’re short on lifeboats, writes Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia CEO Geoff Rowe.

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Aged care is sinking - Australian Ageing Agenda It's time to stop playing with the band and build the lifeboats, writes Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia CEO Geoff Rowe.