Stephen Shirley: Southern Cross Care Tasmania’s chair resigns after decade in charge

The resignation of Southern Cross Care’s chair of the last five years comes amid a turbulent year for the provider, with ongoing concerns about a new model and a spray from federal Clark MP Andrew Wilkie.

Federal Clark MP Andrew Wilkie raised concerns in parliament about Southern Cross Care Tas

The chair of embattled aged care provider Southern Cross Care Tasmania (SCC), has resigned, citing the need for “generational change”.

Stephen Shirley has been on the board for the last ten years, of which the last five years have been as chair of what is the state’s largest aged care provider.

“Southern Cross Care is now transitioning to a skills-based board and as part of best practice, we aim to have directors for a maximum of three terms of three years,” Mr Shirley said in a statement released on Friday.

Southern Cross Care Tasmania chair Stephen Shirley

“Given I have been on the board for a decade, it is appropriate that I move on and allow further generational change to occur.”

Mr Shirley said during the last 10 years, the sector had gone through much needed reform.

He thanked staff, volunteers and residents of SCC.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch held a rally at Southern Cross Care's Rosary Gardens facility in New Town for all Southern Cross Care Tasmania (SCCT) staff, family, friends, and concerned members of the community, February 17, 2023. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Deputy chair Judith Fishlock thanked Mr Shirley for his many years of service.

“The board thanks Stephen for his time and commitment to Southern Cross Care and will now look to announcing a new chair in the coming days,” Ms Fishlock said.

Last week independent Clark MP Andrew Wilkie used parliamentary privilege to make a series of explosive claims about Southern Cross Care Tasmania, calling for the aged care watchdog to urgently launch an investigation into the provider and its leadership.

Mr Wilkie said SCC, which runs nine residential facilities across the state, “continues to fail in its obligations and older Tasmanians continue to suffer”.

According to Mr Wilkie, there had been complaints about “dangerously low” staffing levels, forcing residents at high risk of falls to shower, toilet and dress themselves; poor quality food, food service, and general care; and “consistently slow and dangerous bell response times”.