A Bellarine community group has written an open letter to Geelong councillors urging them not to withdraw from aged care services.
Positive ageing community group Staying in Portarlington (SiP) sent the letter to councillors on April 6, expressing alarm over the future of the City of Greater Geelong’s (CoGG) in-home care programs.
The letter, signed by SiP president Jenny Wills, was a response to the City’s announcement on Wednesday, April 2 that the council was poised to decide on whether to adopt City officers’ recommendation to axe the services and “transition all in-home community care clients to specialist local providers”.
“SiP is alarmed that Council could withdraw from providing its highly valued aged care services and terminate the employment of 300 skilled and respected aged care workers,” Ms Wills wrote.
“Such actions would contravene Council’s current commitments as per its formally endorsed Positive Ageing Strategy 2021-2047 – Respected, Connected and Thriving.
“The new Aged Care Act, as a result of the negative findings of the Aged Care Royal Commission, will from 1st July 2025 enshrine the human rights of older people in legislation.
“It is therefore astounding that council at this time would consider disrespecting the rights and the dignity of older people by defunding essential aged care services.”
CoGG’s initial announcement said the officers’ recommendation was based on an “independent review” that “found specialist aged care providers are well placed to provide the best quality client service, with Greater Geelong benefiting from a strong and well-serviced market.”
Ms Wills called the recommendation “nonsensical” and asked for details of the review process.
“Who undertook the review? What were its terms of reference?” she wrote.
“Was council’s Ageing Well Advisory Committee consulted? What is planned for community consultation and engagement on this important matter which could have dire life-changing consequences for current and potential service users in our community?”
The council was due to decide on the future of its in-home services at a confidential meeting on Thursday, April 10, but after backlash from unions, stakeholders and the community CoGG chief executive Ali Wastie cancelled the meeting “to enable further consultation”.
“The City welcomes the opportunity to work through this process in good faith with our employees and the Australian Services Union,” Ms Wastie said.
