Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) Chief Executive Officer Sean Rooney today addressed LASA National Congress.

More than 1200 delegates are attending Congress, which is the largest age services industry event in Australia and continues until Tuesday 30 October at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Mr Rooney addressed some of the major issues facing the industry, including the upcoming Royal Commission, funding, workforce, quality of care and access.

He also announced a number of new initiatives for Members, including:

• LASA’s Communities of Practice – an online platform for Members with shared interests to communicate as a network on key issues, pose questions to their peers, discuss operational challenges, share innovative solutions, and support each other in their day to day work – all within a shared and facilitated online environment.
• A new partnership with Universal Care Training (UCT) which expands our suite of in-person and online training courses for LASA Members. Our partnership with UCT builds on the accredited training courses currently offered through the LASA Aged Care Training Institute.
• A national Nurse Advisor / Administrator Panel of suitably qualified and experienced nurse advisors and administrators whom providers can engage, should they be instructed to do so by the Department or the Quality and Safety Commission.
• LASA will lead and coordinate a Australia’s ‘Aged Care Thank You’ day in 2019 – a national day of recognition and celebration for every person who works in aged care. In planning for this initiative, LASA will engage with Members and other stakeholders to promote and coordinate a suite a related activities.

Mr Rooney’s speech is available on the LASA website and can be watched in full here.

As the warmer months approach, many of us are thinking about that long awaited holiday to escape the heat. Judi Cohen of Care With Quality reminds us to consider the extra care older family members will require.

As we get older, the choices of what to do during the hot summer months begin to change. It’s not necessary to travel at peak season anymore, which allows you to avoid periods where destinations are full of schoolaged children.

For some people, there are obstacles to travelling and getting around. Staying home now becomes an easier option, especially as the mercury soars and temperatures are extreme.
Support is available no matter what you decide to do over the summer, should you need it. READ MORE