Crucial role for older Australians’ advocate

COTA Australia, the peak advocacy group for older Australians, has appointed Patricia Sparrow as its new chief executive.

COTA Australia’s new chief executive Patricia Sparrow.

The nation’s peak advocacy group for older Australians, Council on the Ageing Australia, has appointed the experienced Patricia Sparrow as its new chief executive.

Ms Sparrow, previously head of Vision 2020 Australia and aged care advocacy group Aged and Community Services Australia and a former federal ministerial aged care adviser, will take over the reins from Ian Yates, who is retiring after 20 years at the helm of the organisation.

The appointment comes at a critical time in advocacy for older Australians, with health, aged care and cost of living all hot political topics at both the state and federal level. One of the federal government’s biggest spending items in next week’s federal budget will be aged care.

Ms Sparrow said she was looking forward to advocating on behalf of Australia’s growing cohort of older citizens.

“Age discrimination, employment, cost of living, retirement ­incomes and secure housing, especially for older women – as well as aged care – are among the nation’s biggest challenges for the next few decades and ones that I am passionate about addressing,” she said.

“My priorities will be to improve equality in the delivery of all services and harness the power of the new generation of older Australians for good.”

COTA Australia chair Jane Halton said Ms Sparrow offered great continuity as the organisation continued to advocate for better policies for older people.

“Patricia brings with her a great passion for the rights and wellbeing of older Australians,” Professor Halton said. “While Australia has come a long way when it comes to understanding and respecting the rights and needs of older Australians, there is still a long way to go, and Patricia is the ideal person to help us navigate the challenges ahead.”

Professor Halton also paid tribute to Mr Yates. “Ian has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of older Australians for over three decades and in that time has been instrumental in pushing for and achieving crucial reforms such as the increase to the aged pension, superannuation reform and especially major aged care reforms – as well as countless other measures which have helped improve the lives of older Australians,” she said.

“He’s played a pivotal role in shaping the way older people are seen and heard … and will contin­ue to contribute to the welfare of older Australians in other roles.”

Ms Sparrow begins in her new role in December.