Online Community Forum
Free event, live-streamed via Zoom (link provided on registration)
The past two years have been incredibly challenging for us all, but older Australians have arguably been the most adversely impacted.
This Community Forum aims to highlight some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities by putting the spotlight on seniors.
From progress on (and roadblocks to) implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, to campaigns aimed at securing minimum staff ratios and enabling greater workforce participation by seniors, this expert panel will delve into the issues that matter most to our community.
Older Australians care deeply and have an enormous amount to contribute when it comes to shaping the future of our country but also face unique challenges and demands.
Whether that’s grappling with the gendered superannuation gap, coping with rising inflation on a fixed income, juggling caring responsibilities, worrying about climate action, access to healthcare, higher standards of aged care or struggling to just be seen, heard and valued.
Everything is up for discussion with our expert panel at this event and audience participation is welcome as part of the in-depth Q&A. Please join us.
Speakers
Annie Butler - ANMF National Secretary
Annie Butler is the Federal Secretary for the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. Annie was formally appointed to the role in June 2018, having served as the Assistant Federal Secretary since March 2014, and following years of experience in the clinical, professional and industrial areas of nursing.
Annie is a registered nurse with more than a decade’s experience working in public hospitals, the community and on health education projects, and a further decade working in research and education.
She worked for the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association, for a further decade, as a professional officer, organiser and lead organiser, prior to moving to the national position of Assistant Federal Secretary and now holding the position of Federal Secretary
Annie believes that we must fight to maintain the professions of nursing and midwifery in Australia and ensure their advancement. She is passionate about improving Australia’s system of health and aged care and the critical role nurses and midwives have to play in the future of our health system. Annie is particularly keen to see nurses drive change for improvements in Australia’s aged care sector.
Annie has a degree in Health Science, an Honour’s degree in Nursing.
Ian Henschke - National Seniors Chief Advocate
Ian is working to raise the profile of older people and to strengthen the collective voice of National Seniors members. A teacher before choosing a career in the media in 1980, Ian has worked in film, television, radio and print for 37 years. He has served on the board of the ABC, presented regular radio programs and won prestigious media awards, including UN Media Peace Prizes in 2007 and 2009. Ian was named Telstra Rural Journalist of the Year in 1998 and was a finalist in the prestigious Walkley Awards twice. He was recognised for his service to Australian society through broadcasting’ with the Centenary of Federation Medal in 2003.
He continues to write a column for the The Advertiser’s SA Weekend magazine since it was launched in 2009.
Ian Henschke was the inaugural ABC Reuters Foundation/Chevening Fellow to Oxford in 1999 where he negotiated a co-production between 4 Corners and BBC World. He graduated from Adelaide University with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Diploma of Education in 1977.
Community-endorsed independent candidate David Pocock will be there listening to what the community and the experts have to say, and to discuss what you need him working to achieve for the ACT if elected to the federal senate.