Anglicare Australia launches 2019 State of the Family Report: Our Better Selves
Anglicare Australia has launched the 2019 State of the Family report. Our Better Selves: Appreciating and Re-Imagining Our Work to Create Change has been the culmination of an eighteen month project, led by Anglicare Australia’s Deputy Executive Director Roland Manderson.
The Our Better Selves project was made up of five separate teams from across the Anglicare Australia Network. These teams conducted appreciative inquiries into their services, discovering the best of what they do, how they make strong connections, and build change in their communities. Our thanks to Anglicare Southern Queensland, Samaritans Foundation, Anglicare NT, St John’s Youth Services and Anglicare WA for leading their inquiries and investing in the project. The story of each inquiry is at the heart of this report.
Our Better Selves then brings together the overarching themes from the five inquiries and uses them to re-imagine how we go about our work. It offers a number of actions the Anglicare Australia Network can take to draw on deep knowledge in the network to build a powerful and positive culture of development and change.
“Relationships are the key to Anglicare Australia’s work. This report shows us how we build those relationships – and the impact they can have when they’re strong,” said Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers.
“This report is full of stories of people who have overcome major challenges because their wisdom and potential has been recognised – and harnessed to make change. Our Better Selves offers a raft of ideas that we can take back into our membership to strengthen those relationships, our impact and our work together.”
Unlike previous reports, the audience for this year’s State of the Family is not Government or decision-makers, but rather the Anglicare Australia Network itself. We encourage members to distribute this report internally to your own teams, boards, community partners, local parishes, and others you may partner with.
Click here to read the media release. The full report is available here.
Aged Care Royal Commission a wakeup for the nation
Anglicare Australia has called the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s interim report a wakeup call for the sector and for Government.
“It’s fitting that the Commissioners have called their report Neglect. It describes a system which can’t assure us that people will be well cared for, valued or respected. Worst of all, the problems it faces have been known for years,” said Anglicare Australia Acting Executive Director Roland Manderson.
Anglicare Australia also said that the system is broken and must be reformed.
“We need a national commitment to end these years of neglect, and make the profound investment needed to build a system that will value people and care for them properly.”
Our comments were covered in The Canberra Times, SBS, and Nine News as well as specialist outlets such as Aged Care Guide and The Senior.
Click here to read the full media release.
Extra funds for aged care welcome, but only a start
Anglicare Australia has welcomed new funds committed to aged care. We are calling on the Government to build on this commitment in its next budget.
“Today’s announcement from the Prime Minister is a good start, but it’s only a first step. More must be done to improve care for older people,” said Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers.
“16,000 people died waiting for home care packages last year. Another 120,000 are languishing on the waiting list. The Government must take real action on this in its next budget.”
Anglicare Australia called on the Government to start planning for longer-term reforms.
“The Government must build on today’s announcement. That means committing to a funding model that guarantees quality aged care for everybody who needs it. It should start budgeting for this now so it’s ready to act on the Royal Commission’s final recommendations in 2020.
“We have heard a lot about the promised budget surplus. But the best thing we could do for older people is make sure that everyone can get the quality care they need, when they need it, where they need it. Making that a reality should be our first priority.”
Our comments were covered by specialist outlets including Australian Ageing Agenda, Talking Aged Care, and Your Life Choices.
Click here to read the full media release.
Anglicare Australia responds to Regional Australia inquiry
Anglicare Australia has made a submission to the submission to the Select Committee on Regional Australia. We have argued that any growth, development or improved wellbeing in regional Australia needs a robust and well-resourced community service sector. It is through investing in community development and place based initiatives that Australia regions will develop the capacity and connectedness to see them through the cycles of change ahead.
Our comments are based on feedback from Anglicare Australia Network members based in regional Australia, who have emphasised that we need to draw on our rich community resources, and grow the care systems.
Click here to read our submission.
Robodebt debacle must never be repeated
Anglicare Australia has welcomed news that a key plank of Centrelink’s Robodebt system will come to an end.
“People caught up in the Robodebt debacle will be breathing a sigh of relief,” said Anglicare Australia’s Executive Director Kasy Chambers.
The Government must now work with those affected to fix the problems created by the Robodebt system, and create a better one.
“The wrongs and personal pain caused by Robodebt could have been avoided if the Government had listened to the community sector, academics, lawyers, judges, and most importantly, the people affected by the system.
“This is an opportunity for the Government hear from those who have been through the system – and work with them to put things right. We are ready to work with the Government and all parties affected to design a system that works for everyone. We hope they are willing to answer that call.”
Click here to read the full media release. Click here for coverage of our comments.