The Royal Commission received a number of submissions on the redesign of the aged care system, following a request for submissions made by the Commissioners in Consultation Paper 1. Well, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to argue for counsellors and the value of counselling in the aged care space. I highlighted the contradictory processes that exist in the aged + disability service system. I am a recognised counsellor in the disability system but given no recognition in

Finally, I got an article published by Community Care Review to highlight the importance of counselling for older adults. While I attempt to make a case for community counsellors, I also recognise that some people need access to a range of mental health professionals. Using a series of examples, I presented scenarios where counsellors makes sense. I am pleased that my article is supported by 2 academics, one in South Australia, the other in Western Australia. Older people (w

The following is selected content from an AAA article: "Australian Ageing Agency recently reported that Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's new report indicated the majority of aged care residents are diagnosed with at least one mental health or behavioural condition. In 2017-18, almost half of residents were diagnosed with depression (49 per cent), up from 47 per cent in 2016-17 and 46 per cent in 2015-16". My comment to the article is as follows: A move to resident

The recent Inquiry into Mental Health appears to consider mental health in relation to economic participation, productivity and economic growth. However, older people, long retired and economically unproductive (except they may volunteer), may experience poor mental health for various reasons such as downsizing in a different suburb or moving to community living in a retirement village with rules for a new way of living. I am not a psychologist or mental health social worker