Proposal 5-11: Introducing the term training for new appointees, which ‘representatives’ should be available alongside and culturally sensitive online Churches of Christ Care recommends training packages to support people during guidance is given to ensure people the tribunal process. understand the difference between a If concerns are raised regarding a formal representative with an underpinning guardian or administrator, the legal agreement and an informal tribunal should be able to direct them to representative, who is acting as an undertake face-to-face training. Although it advocate and supporting people through should be noted that while discussions and processes. training may address In practice, people using our care services inadvertent abuse, it is unlikely to prevent often refer to friends or neighbours as their those seeking out to deliberately abuse representatives, however there is no and exploit older people. formal legal framework underpinning this role or relationship. Most often, people use Social security the term to refer to the “representative” role of someone participating in Churches of Christ Care supports the conversations with them and playing a proposed measures to strengthen supportive or advocacy role. Care needs protections for people receiving social to be taken to limit confusion between the security benefits. role and powers of formal and informal Aged care representatives as work is done to change language and culture in this space. Proposal 11-2: Defining reportable Guardianship and incidents Churches of Christ Care recommends financial administration reviewing the range of reportable incidents orders and providing clear policy guidance to avoid setting reporting thresholds too low. Question 6-1: Providing information to Churches of Christ Care supports the newly-appointed guardians and redefinition of reportable assault to financial administrators reportable incidents, and the inclusion of Churches of Christ Care recommends incidents relating to sexual offences, fraud information and training on the role of and financial abuse. We also support guardians and administrators be extending this framework to community incorporated into tribunal processes, care, which does have the same level of including requiring confirmation a person oversight as residential aged care. understands the scope of the role and However, we are concerned that current their obligations. descriptions of and ‘ill-treatment’ Our organisation considers compulsory are too broad ‘unexplained serious injury’ face-to-face training as potentially too and may set the threshold for reportable onerous for family members, which could incidents too low. have the unintended consequence of Reportable assaults are currently subject diverting guardianship and administration to a high level of monitoring through to the state. We support optional
Proposal 5-11: Introducing the term ‘representatives’ Churches of Christ Care recommends guidance is given to ensure people understand the difference between a formal representative with an underpinning legal agreement and an informal representative, who is acting as an advocate and supporting people through discussions and processes. In practice, people using our care services often refer to friends or neighbours as their representatives, however there is no formal legal framework underpinning this role or relationship. Most often, people use the term “representative” to refer to the role of someone participating in conversations with them and playing a supportive or advocacy role. Care needs to be taken to limit confusion between the role and powers of formal and informal representatives as work is done to change language and culture in this space. Guardianship and financial administration orders Question 6-1: Providing information to newly-appointed guardians and financial administrators Churches of Christ Care recommends information and training on the role of guardians and administrators be incorporated into tribunal processes, including requiring confirmation a person understands the scope of the role and their obligations. Our organisation considers compulsory face-to-face training as potentially too onerous for family members, which could have the unintended consequence of diverting guardianship and administration to the state. We support optional training for new appointees, which should be available alongside and culturally sensitive online training packages to support people during the tribunal process. If concerns are raised regarding a guardian or administrator, the tribunal should be able to direct them to undertake face-to-face training. Although it should be noted that while training may address inadvertent abuse, it is unlikely to prevent those seeking out to deliberately abuse and exploit older people. Social security Churches of Christ Care supports the proposed measures to strengthen protections for people receiving social security benefits. Aged care Proposal 11-2: Defining reportable incidents Churches of Christ Care recommends reviewing the range of reportable incidents and providing clear policy guidance to avoid setting reporting thresholds too low. Churches of Christ Care supports the redefinition of reportable assault to reportable incidents, and the inclusion of incidents relating to sexual offences, fraud and financial abuse. We also support extending this framework to community care, which does have the same level of oversight as residential aged care. However, we are concerned that current descriptions of ‘ill-treatment’ and ‘unexplained serious injury’ are too broad and may set the threshold for reportable incidents too low. Reportable assaults are currently subject to a high level of monitoring through
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