Fair and sustainable pricing enables the aged care sector to deliver high quality care. In this submission to the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority, we focus on the need for the pricing structure to reflect the cost of providing the care that Australians expect for themselves and their family members. This means ensuring that pricing keeps up with rising costs over time and recognising the costs of delivering care in regional and rural areas. Anglicare Australia also calls for a Pricing Framework that supports holistic, person-centred care, enabling a person to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Submission on Work and Care
In this submission Anglicare Australia advocates for a re-think of our entire approach to work and care, that provides all Australians with a permanent basic income to lift them out of poverty, and value their contribution, regardless of whether it is in paid employment, caring for friends and family, or volunteering in the community. We must do away with punitive and ineffective employment services that fail to take account of people’s situation, and move to a person-centred system that takes into account people’s strengths, goals and circumstances.
Submission on Enhancing Pensioner and Veteran Workforce Participation Amendment
As well as much needed income, work can give people purpose, reduce social isolation, and foster connection to community. In this submission Anglicare Australia supportsthe provisions in the amendment that allow people receiving aged pension or veteran entitlements to have their payments suspended for up to two years, instead of cancelled, if they earn employment income above the maximum threshold. We also call for extension of the Work Bonus to social security recipients under 65 years and support for workforce participation through a universal basic income.
Submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Carer Leave
Taking care of a loved one or a friend can be extremely rewarding and fulfilling, but it can also negatively impact an informal carer’s health, wellbeing, and financial security. Current arrangements fail to adequately support informal carers. In this submission, Anglicare Australia advocates that a legislated right to return to work will be helpful, but having enough money to live on while carrying out caring responsibilities is far more important. We call for a universal, permanent basic income to benefit all carers.
Submission to the Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill
Inadequate staffing means not enough time to care, and poorer outcomes for residential aged care residents and staff. In this submission, Anglicare Australia supported the provisions in the Bill relating to 24 hour per day nursing. But we recognise the reforms will impact different services and communities differently and highlighted some of the impacts on providers, including specialist and rural and regional providers.
Submission on the Digital Protections Framework for Employment Services Programs
This submission comments on the Draft Social Security (Digital Protections Framework for Employment Services Programs) Determination 2022. It argues that while this Framework is a useful step, the new system has been created in a way that will continue to allow the Secretary and providers to issue rigid penalties, such as payment suspensions and cancellations, without review. It also makes detailed comments and recommendations on Schedule 1 of the Draft Framework.
Submission on the Remake of the ACNC Regulations
Anglicare Australia provided comment on the expsoure draft of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Regulations 2022. In the submission we supported the full implementation of the ACNC Legislation Review 2018, and recommended Governance Standard 3 is removed from the remade regulations. Registered entities already have to comply with all applicable laws. Governance Standard 3 is unnecessary, undermines the Charities Act, and provides the Commissioner too much discretion over subjective actions.
Submission on Repeal of the Cashless Debit Card
In this submission Anglicare Australia commended the Government for introducing legislation to abolish the Cashless Debit Card, which has harmed those who have been forced onto it without providing any benefit. However, while we support the abolition of the Cashless Debit Card, we are concerned that the repeal of this bill does not apply to the income management program introduced during the Northern Territory Intervention, where three-quarters of people on the Basics Card are First Nations.
Submission to the National Disability Advocacy Framework 2022-2025
This submission makes a number of suggestions for improvements to the National Disability Advocacy Framework to streamline quality and reporting requirements for the sector, and increase funding to better protect the human rights of people with disability.
Submission on the Transition to Independent Living Allowance
This submission makes recommendations about changes to the Leaving Care Plan and TILA
application process that will improve access to financial support for care leavers. It also recommends
increasing social security payments to support young people leaving informal care who cannot access
the TILA, or who are waiting to have their claim for a TILA assessed.