Looking to explore and learn from innovative home care and community care models that embrace and celebrate the gift of ageing, Peter Williams, a well-respected Tasmanian health care professional is heading to Japan, England and Ireland.
“The current aged care models are disconnected from each other and seen as separate businesses. There is an urgent need to find innovative community care models that can be transferred to the Tasmanian and Australian aged care sector,” explained Williams.
“I will be using my Churchill Fellowship to understand international models of home care services and how these models can assist in designing our future,” said Mr Williams. “Our sector is built on traditional healthcare models where institutionalisation is normalised as part of the ageing process.”
Adam Davey, CEO of the Winston Churchill Trust congratulated Williamson his Fellowship.
“We recognise Peter’s passion in highlighting the inadequacies of the current aged care systems and processes in Tasmania which has the oldest population in Australia - 19.4 percent of the population are aged 65 years or more.
“We wish him well on his travels and look forward to hearing how he will improve service delivery and innovative community care models within the aged care sector upon his return.”
The recent Aged Care Royal Commission identified a range of innovative community care service models that utilise age friendly communities and neighbourhood-based teams. World Health Organisation initiatives encourage whole of community guidance, with models harnessing community assets to improve lives and it appears that many of these innovations are not operating in Australia.
Further research into international community care models, against Australian government policy, will assist the community by informing policy makers of alternative and functional solutions.
Williams believes there is a lot to learn and to do, so elders have access to support that is consumer facing, delivered with a humanist lens, and focused on community collaboration.
