industry & reform
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Last year, the ABC reported that more
than half the nursing homes run by BUPA
are failing basic standards, and 30 per
cent are putting residents at risk due to
poor health and safety practices, despite
aged care profits of $663 million and $460
million in government subsidies.
“If you actually have a look at where
BUPA are at, and their results off the back
of some of their failures with respect to
care provision, it has been a very expensive
exercise for them. So, I’m not sure that
their aged care division has contributed
significantly to their overall profit over the
last 12 months or so.”
Colbeck says that his department has
been working closely with BUPA to bring it
back to compliance, and for a company of
this size, it is what Colbeck expects of it.
“They’re a very significant healthcare
provider, and they understand that they
need to bring those facilities back into
compliance,” he says.
“I see them as too big not to come back
to compliance. They should have the
capacity to bring those facilities back to
compliance because of their scale. That’s
what I expect.”
So is Bupa, in fact, too big to fail, as has
been the accusation?
“Can I say I see that as a jargon that
goes back to 2008. I don’t look at it in that
context. I see these organisations as large
organisations with the capacity to put the
resources [in place] to bring themselves
back to compliance. I actually don’t want
to see them fail.
“And it’s not as if we’re providing them
with any additional resources to do the job
that they need to do,” Colbeck says.
“And in fact, some of the impacts of
them having sanctions means that they
have to put additional people in there that
provide the oversight and the capacity to
do that. So, it’s a very expensive process
for them.”
A ‘CRUEL AND HARMFUL SYSTEM’
Shortly before the royal commission’s
interim report was handed down last year,
Colbeck made an appearance on Q&A,
where Monash University professor Joseph
Ibrahim, sitting in the audience, kicked off
proceedings by asking the panellists if they,
like many Aussies, would rather die early
than enter an aged care home.
Colbeck replied that he “wouldn’t share
that view”, and the ex-building contractor
stands by that view today.
28 agedcareinsite.com.au
“My view hasn’t changed in that context.
I know a lot of facilities, I’ve seen a lot of
facilities, and there are some very, very
good aged care facilities around Australia.
The way that they’re providing services
has changed enormously over the last
three decades.
“As I said, I’ve seen it because I’ve worked
in them as a contractor. I’ve modified
them to change the way they provide that
service, and it continues to change.
“But the reality is that for a proportion of
the population, the continued availability of
high quality residential aged care is going
to be really important.”
And although he believes the sector does
a good job on the whole, he admits he was
surprised at the scathing interim report
handed down by the royal commission.
“I don’t think anybody was prepared for
that sort of language,” he says.
“I did say in the weeks leading up to the
interim report that I thought it was going
to provide a simple message towards all. It
certainly did that.
“It sent a message to government. It sent
a message to industry.
“And I think it sent a message to
the broader community, because the
commission was also talking to the
broader community in respect of some
of our attitudes as a community to
senior Australians.”
If the royal commission has laid anything
bare, it is that ageism, as well as the
financial interests of some providers, has
played a large role in the neglect of older
Australians, and this is something that
Colbeck and his department want to work
on going forward.
He also says he is working on policy
so the government can be ready for the
commission’s final report and act quickly.
“The work that [the royal commission]
is doing now with some of the papers that
they’re publishing, and some of the round
tables and panel work they’re doing, is
giving some indications in that direction.
“There will be a period ... of reform
that comes off the back of the royal
commission – two or three, perhaps four
years. So that will be significant.
“But being prepared with policy is going
to be extremely important, because there
will be an imprimatur that comes with
the royal commission’s final report, and
there will probably be some very difficult
decisions that have to be made, and [they
will have to be made] as soon as possible
[so as to] remove some of the political
temptation that might exist
Richard Colbeck. Photo: AAP/Mick Tsikas
to play politics with some of those more
difficult decisions.”
A SECTOR IN FLUX
Going forward, Colbeck is preparing for a
post-COVID-19, post-royal commission
aged care sector. He would like to see
every facility implementing its own quality
assurance system to provide quality
indicators that can be reported back to the
government, residents, families and the
community.
He is also having a hard look at the way
aged care is funded.
“And I’m expecting the royal commission
will make some recommendations around
that as well, because I don’t believe that the
taxpayer can afford to pay for it all.”
Mostly, he says, he is looking to make a
difference to older Australians.
“It’s a pretty tough gig. And there’s been
some very hard-to-deal-with stories that
have come out of the royal commission
and some of the things that have occurred
before that.
“But I think it’s an opportunity [for me
as a minister] to lay down a strong policy
platform. It’ll serve the sector and senior
Australians well for the next decade at
least, so that’s the way I’m looking at it.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’m enjoying
the work. I enjoy the interactions with the
people in the sector.
“To have the opportunity and the
imprimatur of a royal commission to
implement some strong policy reform is
a rare opportunity for a minister, so I’m
looking forward to it.” ■