CANBERRA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government will permanently establish a dedicated commissioner to oversee aged care for the Indigenous population under new laws.
Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae said in a statement on Friday that Australia will establish its first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner from July 2027, after legislation passed the federal parliament with bipartisan support on Thursday.
Rae said the new commissioner will work directly with regulatory systems that oversee the aged care sector to communicate feedback and priorities from Indigenous elders and inform government decisions.
"Every older Australian deserves care that sees them, knows them and treats them with respect," he said.
"The establishment of Australia's first permanent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner will give an independent voice to First Nations peoples and deliver better outcomes for them and their communities."
The federal government's landmark Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which handed down its final report in 2021, found that the system failed to provide culturally safe care for Indigenous Australians and made several recommendations for reform, including a dedicated commissioner.
Rae said that the commissioner will be appointed following consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations and advocates.
