MEDIA RELEASE
COTA WA Welcomes Cook Government Budget Investment in Older Western Australians
Council on the Ageing WA (COTA WA) has welcomed the Cook Government’s 2025-26 State Budget announcement, particularly the investment in health and ageing initiatives to support older people.
COTA WA Chair, Dr Carmen Lawrence AO, congratulated Minister for Health, the Hon Meredith Hammat MLA, and the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, the Hon Simone McGurk MLA for their commitment to piloting three Older Adult Hubs as part of a $1.4 billion health care boost.
“This is a strong recognition that older people need face to face help navigating a complex health and aged care system and the need for health services to be better tailored to meet their changing needs,” Dr Lawrence said.
“The commitment to three Older Adult Hubs is an important step forward and has the potential to improve access to coordinated, age-appropriate health and social support services.”
COTA WA is calling on the Ministers to ensure the Hubs are co-designed with, and led by, older Western Australians.
“Older people are the experts in their own lives. These Hubs must not be driven solely by clinicians or institutions, but by the needs, values and lived experiences of the people they are intended to serve,” Dr Lawrence said.
A recent research report published in 2024 by COTA WA found that 74% of older people found it hard to access information and communicate with Government services. These Older Adult Hubs are a chance to directly address this issue.
“We commend the Cook Government’s focus on older people’s health and ageing needs – if done correctly Western Australia will be the first State in Australia to implement such a landmark reform.”
COTA WA looks forward to working with the Government to ensure the Hubs are inclusive, accessible, and deliver real impact for older people across WA.
ENDS
Media Contact: Mark Kinsela, Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 0407 796 990 Email: markkinsela@cotawa.org.au
Council on the Ageing Western Australia. (2024, August). Communication preferences for older people: Final detail version [PDF]. https://www.cotawa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Final-Detail-Version-Communication-Preferences-for-Older-People.pdf
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