This artwork was created by Chern'ee Sutton - proud Aboriginal artist and Kalkadoon woman from the emu foot province around the Mount Isa area in North West Queensland.
The Commission is committed to making sure quality, culturally appropriate and safe aged care is delivered to First Nations people.
In the first half of 2024, we started a dedicated First Nations communication, engagement and education project. We are working with First Nations stakeholders and communities to develop resources and materials that will support First Nations providers, workers, older people and communities. This recognises that there are unique considerations when providing aged care for First Nations people.
If you are interested in being a part of the Commission’s First Nations communications project and want to contribute to the development of resources, please contact us on agedcarecommunications@agedcarequality.gov.au at any time.
Video with the Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner
One of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into aged care was the appointment of a statutory First Nations Aged Care Commissioner to ensure culturally safe, tailored and flexible aged care services for First Nations people.
Appointed as the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner in January 2024, Andrea Kelly is a proud Warumungu and Larrakia woman with strong family connections throughout the Northern Territory. She has 32 years of experience engaging with First Nations communities and developing public policy for First Nations populations.
In this video, Andrea Kelly talks about her role and key functions, including:
- a mandate to lead extensive public consultations with First Nations stakeholders and communities about the design and functions of the permanent Commissioner
- contributing to the changes necessary to bring improvements for First Nations people across all tiers of the aged care system
- advocating for and promoting culturally safe, aged care for First Nations people across Australia.
Transcript for 'Catching Up With the Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner'
First Nations aged care reference group
To guide and support the Commission’s approach to First Nations communication and engagement we have established a First Nations aged care reference group.
Members of the reference group include representatives from First Nation’s peak bodies such as NATSIAACC and NACCHO, the Department of Health and Aged Care and our Indigenous Staff Network.
The group provides input and expert advice on opportunities, issues, our engagement approach, messaging, communication channels and tactics to reach and engage First Nations target audiences.
They may also advise the Commission on aged care issues impacting First Nations stakeholders and the work of the Commission.
Strengthened Quality Standards – guidance consultation
In February - May 2024, we consulted on our draft guidance resources to help providers, aged care workers and other stakeholders to understand the new strengthened Quality Standards and their roles and responsibilities in meeting them. Further draft resources are also being developed specifically for people receiving aged care and their representatives and will be available shortly.
We engaged with several First Nations stakeholders to understand the specific needs and consideration of First Nations providers, workers and older people receiving care, and how the Commission can support them. The purpose of this consultation was to help us ensure that the guidance resources are fit-for-purpose, easy-to-understand and support the delivery of quality, person-centred aged care.
A report is now available on the outcomes of the public consultation.
We are now finalising the guidance material for release towards the end of 2024.
The draft resources remain available on our website, including through the new Quality Standards Guidance Tool.
Other resources
- The Good Spirit Good Life (GSGL) assessment package is a resource available to support aged care providers in the delivery of culturally safe aged care for First Nations Peoples.
- The ‘A little yarn goes a long way' fact sheet has been developed to inform older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and their friends and family, about the support available to help them resolve concerns about aged care services, and why it’s important to raise these concerns.
- Indigenous Allied Health Australia’s Cultural Responsiveness Framework aims to support all Australians working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities to acquire relevant skills and knowledge, and develop capabilities that are essential for successful partnerships and action.
