Skip to content
Medical Health Aged Care

Dementia Australia welcomes new appointment of Age Discrimination Commissioner

Dementia Australia 2 mins read

Dementia Australia welcomes the appointment of Mr Robert Fitzgerald AM as the next Age Discrimination Commissioner.

 

The Age Discrimination Commissioner, operating within the Australian Human Rights Commission, leads the work to prevent age-based discrimination and promote equality across areas of employment, education, accommodation and the provision of goods and services.

 

In this position, Mr Fitzgerald will spearhead initiatives to combat age related disparities and to advocate for the rights of older people in Australia.

 

Mr Fitzgerald contributed to the Dementia-Friendly Communities Roundtable in NSW Parliament in September 2022 which resulted in the inaugural NSW Parliamentary Friends of Dementia Action Plan 2023-2025 released in September 2023.

 

Dementia Australia Executive Director, Services, Advocacy and Research Dr Kaele Stokes said the appointment was well deserved.

 

“Mr Fitzgerald has long championed the rights of older people, including those with a cognitive impairment, and this new appointment acknowledges his commitment to serving this community,” Dr Stokes said.

 

“In 2024 there are more than 421,000 people living with all forms of dementia in Australia. Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people is expected to increase to more than 812,500 by 2054.

 

“Older people living with dementia are more susceptible to elder abuse, including physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, social and financial abuse as well as neglect.

 

“Dementia Australia looks forward to working with Mr Fitzgerald to protect older Australians, especially people living with dementia or cognitive impairment who are more vulnerable within the community.”

 

Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated more than 421,000 Australians living with dementia, and the more than 1.6 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and support vital research. We are here to support people impacted by dementia, and to enable them to live as well as possible. No matter how you are impacted by dementia or who you are, we are here for you.

For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. An interpreter service is available. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au

-Ends-

When talking or writing about dementia please refer to Dementia-Friendly Language Guidelines.

Media contacts: Sally Grandy, Senior Media and Communications Advisor, 0401 566710, Sally.Grandy@dementia.org.au

Note to Editors:

We request, where possible, details for the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 appear alongside news stories about dementia, as these stories often prompt questions or concerns:

If this story has prompted any questions or concerns, please call the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 (24 hours, 7 days a week) or visit dementia.org.au.


Contact details:

Sally Grandy, Senior Media and Communications Advisor - 0401 566710

More from this category

  • Medical Health Aged Care, National News Current Affairs
  • 05/11/2024
  • 16:17
National Rural Health Alliance

Unleashing the potential of the rural and remote health workforce

The long-awaited final report Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce: Scope of Practice Review was released today following over a year long process to conduct the review in four phases. “The National Rural Health Alliance congratulates the team led by Professor Mark Cormack for this important review which will provide the direction for health policy for many years to come,” said Susi Tegen, Chief Executive of the National Rural Health Alliance. “We are particularly pleased to see the focus on rural and remote barriers highlighted and solutions.” The report provides a number of specific inclusions and recommendations related to…

  • Contains:
  • Medical Health Aged Care
  • 05/11/2024
  • 14:35
Royal Australian College of GPs

GPs warn of worse access and more waste under Scope of Practice recommendations

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has urged the Federal Government to exercise caution in its assessment of the recommendations of the Scope of Practice Review report, warning some recommendations will make seeing a GP harder for more patients. The College said some of the report’s recommendations may sound good on the surface but will result in a costlier health system, more delays to care, and higher out-of-pocket costs for patients. The RACGP is particularly concerned about the proposal to open direct referral pathways to more health professionals. RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said: “This is a report, not…

  • Contains:
  • Medical Health Aged Care
  • 05/11/2024
  • 13:36
Australian College of Nursing

ACN urges action on key recommendations from Scope of Practice Review

The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) welcomes the findings and recommendations of the Final Report of the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce - Scope of Practice Review, released today by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler. ACN is urging the Government to respond positively to the recommendations and ‘unleash’ the full potential of nurses and midwives, the largest and most geographically dispersed health profession in Australia. ACN CEO, Professor Kathryn Zeitz FACN, said the Review acknowledges and explains the restrictions, barriers, and inconsistencies across States and Territories that prevent nurses, nurse practitioners, and…

  • Contains:

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.