Minister's advisory council for senior Territorians - Communique 20 November 2024

The Minister’s Advisory Council for Senior Territorians (MACST) met on 20 November 2024 in Darwin with the new Minister for Youth, Seniors and Equality, the Hon Jinson Charls MLA.

Minister's update

The Minister introduced himself to the council, discussed their concerns and how to address them.

Concerns included:

• housing for seniors
• elder abuse
• voluntary assisted dying
• concessions
• public safety
• community matters.

Casuarina Square safety and security

A representative from Casuarina Square Shopping Centre presented to the council on what safety and security measures are in place to keep shoppers safe.

The council heard about a number of new security initiatives introduced since the beginning of 2024, which have seen a significant reduction in crime in the shopping centre, including:

• the ‘No School, No Service’ model
• zero tolerance policy for public intoxication
• theft and antisocial behaviour
• youth mentoring.

There are also a number of activities and services available to seniors such as:

• Tuesday bingo in the Quarter
• the availability of free mobility scooters and wheelchairs at the customer service counter
• two new disabled carparks near Coles.

Working group discussions

Discussions were held to reorganise working groups, ensuring they focus on advocating for seniors issues and advancing them for government consideration.

The groups are:

• Older person abuse working group
• housing working group
• concessions working group
• communications working group (new).

Health Care Decision Making Act 2023

Ms Beth Walker, Public Guardian of the Northern Territory, presented to members on the new Health Care Decision Making Act 2023 (the Act).

The Act resolves a gap in Northern Territory (NT) law regarding health care decision-making for people who cannot make their own decisions, allowing people close to the person to make healthcare decisions on their behalf.

The Act works on the principle that the people closest to the person when they had capacity know what decisions they would have made for themselves.

The Act formalises a legislative process for which routine, significant and emergency decisions can be made on behalf of a person and creates a hierarchy of decision-makers.

The Public Guardian hopes this Act will reduce the need for full guardianship orders and allow for more flexible decision-making circumstances, especially for those with time-specific capacity such as dementia.

The Public Guardian advocated for everyone to have Advanced Personal Plans (APPs) and advised the MACST that she is happy to come back and present to the group regarding APPs in the future.

Commonwealth aged care update

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care spoke with members about the Aged Care Bill 2024 currently before the Senate, and subsequent reforms in aged care.

Advice included information on:

• A Statement of Rights
• strengthening the powers of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
• the new regulatory model
• support at home
• strengthening of quality standards
• restorative care pathways
• an end-of-life pathway
• assistive technology and home modifications.

Members were also briefed on current work being undertaken by the NT Department of Health on the 120-bed aged care facility in Palmerston. The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care will work with the NT Government on this project.