OCAV's 2019 Federal election platform

OCAV is urging all parties and candidates in the Federal Election to show their commitment to Australia’s older people through supporting four major priorities.

The priorities are to develop a National Housing Strategy to meet Australia’s identified shortfall of 500,000 social and affordable rental homes; fix the funding emergency in residential care and commit to ensuring funding matches the measured costs of delivering high quality care; invest in workforce growth and development; and have a Minister for older Australians and aged care in Cabinet and develop a comprehensive national ‘ageing well’ strategy.

OCAV Chief Executive Officer Phillip Wohlers said each priority targeted older people at different stages of their lives combining to ensure that Australia has a strong program in place which put people in the centre.

“We need a new vision as we have stagnated in how we care for our older citizens, and how we plan and prepare for an ageing population,” Mr Wohlers said.

“We know from our waitlist of 1,100 older Victorians that lack of accessible, safe housing, financial difficulties, poor health, and limited working options are challenging older people who want to be supported by policies which enable them to remain healthy, connected and independent for as long as possible. This includes changing attitudes to ageing and proper planning for an ageing population.”

OCAV calls on all parties and candidates to commit strategies, supports and services that allow all older Australians to continue to lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

OCAV is also calling on all parties and candidates to acknowledge that older Australians are active participants in their families, communities and economy, whether they are working, volunteering, or being unpaid carers for their partners, children and grandchildren.