Are we listening to older Australians?

The premier event for Australia’s aged care sector, the 2011 Aged and Community Services (ACSA) National Conference, will be held in Sydney from Monday 12 to Thursday 15 September 2011. The Conference theme – “Are we listening to older Australians?” – will address the implications of Australia’s changing demographics from the aged care sector’s perspective. International and local speakers will debate the compelling issues confronting older Australians and the challenges of reforming our aged care system to meet unprecedented and diverse demands.

Keynote speakers include:

ACSA CEO Patrick McClure, AO, will expand on ACSA’s leading role to ensure government delivers on reforms proposed by the Productivity Commission and maintain the momentum for reform: 13 Sept, 9.00-10.30am - Plenary Session 1.

Ian Yates, CEO of the Council on the Ageing (COTA), which represents more than 500,000 senior Australians, will explain why older Australians’ concerns and expectations must, and do, feature prominently in the aged care reform process: 13 Sept, 9.30-10.30am - Plenary Session 1.

Mark Butler, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, will appear by videolink to discuss the Productivity Commission’s Final Report and recommendations and aged care reform: 13 Sept, 10-10.30am - Plenary Session 1

Lois Aronstein, New York State Director of AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) which has 38 million members, will give a US perspective on why we need to listen to older consumers and support them to have independence, choice and control in how they live: 13 Sept, 11.30am-12.15pm.

David Behan CBE, Director General of Social Care, UK Department of Health, will discuss the British experience of the aged care reform process and transforming a system to meet older people’s changing aspirations: 14 Sept, 9.30-10.30am.

The ABC’s Tony Jones will host a panel of guests, expert in their respective fields, to debate how best to win the hearts and minds of decision makers. The panel includes: Lindsay Tanner, former Australian Government Minister for Finance and Deregulation; Feyi Akindoyeni, Partner, Office Head (Canberra); Kreab Gavin Anderson; Lois Aronstien, Sr State Director, AARP; Kate Legge, The Australian; Ian Olver, CEO, Cancer Council Australia:
13 Sept, 3.30-4.45pm.

Delegates from across Australia will convene at the Convention and Exhibition Centre for the three-day event which will also include a cook-off for aged care chefs, hosted by television’s Paul Mercurio: Bayside Auditorium, 14 Sept, 12.30-1.30pm.
WHAT: 2011 ACSA NATIONAL CONFERENCE WHEN: 12-15 SEPTEMBER
WHERE: SYDNEY CONVENTION AND EXHIBITON CENTRE – BAYSIDE GROUND AND BAYSIDE LEVEL 1

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