MP to host Minister for aged care public forum

Posted April 05, 2018

Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt has accepted an invitation from the Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie to visit her electorate and engage with the community about aged care services.

Photograph: Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie, left, with South Australian cook, food author and restaurateur Maggie Beer and the Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt at a recent Maggie Beer Foundation presentation at Parliament House. Minister Wyatt is visiting the region on May 1. Maggie Beer has been invited to visit the electorate later in the year to give a presentation on her Foundation's work to improve the food experiences of elderly residents.

Minister Wyatt, a Western Australian MP, will spend a day on the South Coast on 1 May 2018.

The Minister will attend a roundtable discussion for invited aged care providers and aged care stakeholders at Strathalbyn in the morning before touring a local aged care facility and then attending a community forum in Victor Harbor in the afternoon.

“The changes underway in the delivery of aged care services in our community is an important issue for our electorate which has the highest number of older people in South Australia and is the eighth oldest electorate in the nation,” Rebekha said.

“One in five residents in my electorate is aged over 65.

“We have rapidly growing waiting lists for home care packages and there is a looming demand for more aged care bed licences.

“Minister Wyatt wants to discuss the challenges and is committed to working together to find solutions but he also sees great opportunities for our community in the aged care sector.

“I am delighted the Minister has accepted my invitation to come to our region, to not only speak personally with stakeholders but to attend a public forum to talk with and listen to our community.

“This is a rare chance to engage with a Minister and to ask questions of me as well so I urge the people of Mayo to become involved.”

The Community Forum will be held at the McCracken Country Club in Victor Harbor on 1 May 2018, 1:00-2.30pm.

Seats are limited so bookings are essential and can be made online at Rebekhasharkie.com.au or by calling the electorate office on 8398 5566.