Advocacy for older people against the backdrop of the Royal Commission and Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

This presentation will explore the role and importance of professional advocacy in the aged care sector against the backdrop of the Aged Care Royal Commission and the Covid-19 pandemic. Professional advocates from the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) support the rights of older people and their caregivers, building their capacity to solve their own problems, providing empowerment, and reducing the need for service intervention. OPAN provides free support to older people and their representatives to address issues related to Commonwealth-funded aged care services as well as elder abuse. The pandemic presented a range of unique rights-based concerns within aged care, whilst the Royal Commission has shone a light on an aged care system that struggles to deliver safe and quality care and, in too many instances, neglects older Australians. In a system that is failing to meet the basic human rights of older people, access to experienced and professional advocates has never been more important. A mixed-methods research project was conducted in partnership with OPAN to identify the advocacy skills, competencies, and training required to work effectively as a professional advocate. This work was undertaken at the time of the Royal Commission and the associated exposure of the events advocates support older people through. Research phases included a scoping literature review, six focus groups (n=41) with OPAN advocates around the country, and a national online workforce survey (n=67). Presenters will discuss the research findings and implications for advocacy in this sector during a time of heightened vulnerability for older people.