Good morning, everyone.
I'm Kate Thwaites, Assistant Minister for Social Security, Ageing and Women.
I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional owners of the land I - and many of you - are on today, and pay my respects to elders past and present.
I am honoured to have been invited to speak at the UnitingCare Australia Leaders' Forum.
As one of the largest non-government providers of social services and healthcare in the country, UnitingCare is a trusted partner in delivering the Albanese Labor government's vision of:
- a fair and equal society
- with a strong, adequate and just social safety net
- where people from all walks of life are treated with dignity and respect.
With your help, we build on our proud tradition of supporting Australians when they need it across their lifetime, whether that's through:
- responsible cost-of-living relief
- making sure income support payments keep up with inflation through indexation
- or providing world-leading services in disability and aged care.
For some time, the average age in Australia has been increasing. This presents both challenges and opportunities for our country.
Our government is proactive and measured in our approach to supporting this shifting demographic.
We understand that older people are a diverse cohort with varied experiences, goals and economic situations.
The commonality is that older people want to age well, feel financially secure and live in communities that meet their needs and respect their rights.
For government, this means tackling ageism that, unfortunately, persists in our communities, and advancing the rights of older people.
One of the ways we are doing this is through our ambitious aged care reform agenda, led by Ministers Mark Butler and Anika Wells.
Working alongside the sector, including many of your organisations, we have:
- put nurses back into nursing homes,
- delivered millions of additional care minutes to residents,
- funded a record $11.3 billion dollar pay rise for aged care workers and
- increased sustainability in the aged care sector.
We are progressing the new Aged Care Act, which puts the rights and needs of older people at the centre of the aged care system.
We are also supporting older people who are not yet ready to retire by making it easier for them to move between paid work and the age pension.
So, if you haven't already, I encourage you to consider how to tap into this willing workforce, which comes with a lifetime of experience that your staff and those you support will appreciate.
As Assistant Minister for Social Security, Ageing and Women, I am acutely aware that some women are particularly vulnerable as they move into their later years.
Many have spent their lives earning less, caring for others and putting their own health last.
Women retire on average almost 4 years earlier than men, with around 25.2 per cent less superannuation than men, and are disproportionately reliant on social security.
The Labor government is acutely aware of the challenges for older women who retire with less and often have greater health care needs.
We are supporting older women by:
- changing the carer and JobSeeker payments to recognise their needs
- investing in more affordable housing and homelessness services
- focusing on improving women's health so they are supported to age well.
And we are working every day, right across government, to make sure the systemic inequities that have affected these women are eliminated for future generations.
Gender equality is a priority for our government, and we will continue to deliver the reforms and the investments necessary to achieve a safer, more equal country.
On behalf of the Albanese Government, I would like to thank you for being leaders in a sector that makes an enormous impact on the individuals and communities you serve.
I hope you enjoy your Leaders Forum and I look forward to working with you in the future.
Thank you.
