Aged care focus of Rotary Health forum at Tweed Heads

A forum aimed at discussing practical solutions to meet the long-term aged care needs of Tweed and Coolangatta residents will be held at Southern Cross University’s (SCU) Tweed-Gold Coast Campus on July 10.

The forum has been organised by the Rotary Club of Coolangatta Tweed Heads and Aged Services Learning and Research Collaboration (ASLaRC), a joint initiative of SCU and the University of New South Wales focused on enhancing community capacity to provide services for older people

The forum aims to develop a community of interest within the region to work towards creating an aged care environment which meets the needs of residents.

Guest speakers will include Federal Richmond MP and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Larry Anthony, representing the Minister for Ageing Julie Bishop, Rotary President Graham Barrett and Professor Jenny Graham, the of Executive Dean of Health and Applied Sciences at SCU and Head of the
ASLaRC Interim Steering Committee.

Representatives from aged care facilities, local hospitals and local government have been invited to participate and the general community is welcome to attend and express their views.

ASLaRC management committee member and Coolangatta Tweed Heads
Rotary Club Director Associate Professor Shankar Sankaran said aged care was an important issue in Tweed Heads and Coolangatta and surrounding regions in the Gold Coast given the area’s large retired population.

“Obviously aged care is a creeping crisis and resources are limited. Therefore it makes sense for organisations and people interested in aged care to work together to find practical ways to deal with the problem,” he said.

“What we hope to achieve from this forum is a clearer picture of the needs within the community so we can work towards developing long-term solutions.

“This forum will be just the first step in what ASLaRC hopes will be a long-term period of engagement on the issue with the local community.”

Associate Professor Sankaran said a similar engagement with the community on aged care is already happening between ASLaRC and the community at Coffs Harbour.

The ASLaRC Health Forum on Aged Care will be held at SCU’s Tweed-Gold Coast campus on Saturday July 10 from 10 a.m. to midday.

Anyone seeking more information can contact Associate Professor Sankaran on 07 5506 9323

For further information contact: Nigel Tapp (02) 6620 3039 or 0418 431 484