AHRI: Who cares?

That health reform will be a major issue in this year’s federal election is a given. The prime minister Kevin Rudd has already released a proposal for federal government to take over a major chunk of funding from the states and advocates a new structure, which is touted to be the biggest change in the health sector since the introduction of Medicare. That is, if the states agree. If not, Australians may be voting in a referendum come election time. Almost simultaneously, the third intergenerational report was published in February this year, a document which projects 40 years ahead to provide guidance for the future needs of Australians. Many of the figures are stunning. The Australian population is ageing rapidly. It’s concerning and this concern is good news for the aged care sector, which has long been challenged in terms of recruitment and retention of staff. The possibility that there will be four times as many people aged 85 and over by 2050, should bring aged care to the fore.