Indigenous health leader to provide voice on aged-care advisory council

Indigenous health leader Jody Currie has been appointed to the federal government’s aged-care advisory council to ensure First Nations voices are heard when reforming key services.

Jody Currie, former chief executive officer of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Human Services Coalition, has been appointed to the ­National Aged Care Advisory Council. Picture: Sharyn O'Neill

Indigenous health leader Jody Currie has been appointed to the federal government’s aged-care advisory council as Anthony Albanese pushes to ensure that First Nations voices are heard when ­reforming key services.

Ms Currie has joined the ­National Aged Care Advisory Council, which will advise the ­Albanese government on how it can implement its planned reforms to the sector, including a $2.5bn policy to increase the number of nurses and carers.

The 17-member body, led by former Victorian opposition spokeswoman on ageing Andrea Coote, was established by the Morrison government last year to provide advice on implementing recommendations on the aged- care royal commission.

Ms Currie, the former chief executive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane, said she would ensure Indigenous Australians were “front and centre of the government’s response to the royal commission’s recommendations”.

“A seat at the table means our voices are heard at the national level to drive and action the aged-care reforms,” Ms Currie said.

“I hope that our ways of caring for our elders can also help mainstream Australia to understand the importance of stewardship of our elders. Walking, working and learning together, we can strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care and health services, and together can care for our precious elders.”

Also on the advisory council are industry bosses, including former NSW premier and HammondCare CEO Mike Baird, Opal HealthCare chief executive Rachel Argaman, and Hall & Prior co-founder Graeme Prior.

Reforming the aged-care sector and improving the lives of Indigenous Australians were key pre-election commitments of the Prime Minister. Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said the government’s reforms to the sector would ensure the needs of First Nations people were catered for.

“The appointment of Jody Currie to the council aligns with the Closing the Gap agreement to enable a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and achieve better outcomes,” Ms Wells said.

The final report of the aged-care royal commission issued concerns that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people “do not ­access aged care at a rate commensurate with their level of need”.

“A combination of factors creates barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s ­access to the aged-care system,” the report said. “These arise from social and economic disadvantage, a lack of culturally safe care, and the ongoing impacts of colonisation and prolonged discrimination.

“Access issues are further compounded by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s additional vulnerability arising from higher rates of disability, comorbidities, homelessness and dementia.”

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

Assistant Indigenous Health Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said Ms Currie’s appointment was a “significant step”.

“For far too long, older First Nations people have experienced barriers to accessing aged-care services in their homes and communities,” Senator McCarthy said.

“To address service gaps and improve access to care, we must include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in the design, discussion and implementation of aged-care reforms.”