Author: Wayne Belcher (OAM)

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Report and Recommendations – Joint Select Committee on End of Life Choices

I have been working back in the aged care sector since August 2016, and as many of you know I have been the Chief Executive Officer of Braemar since March 2017.  A few weeks back I did seek comment from colleagues and visitors to my blog about these “end of life choice” matters.  Thank you to those who have pondered, commented, and otherwise contributed on these things.

Pain, suffering, and distress are existential.  The desire to end one’s own life is based on existential circumstances with perhaps the view that there is little hope for any future improvement in life’s outlook.  The majority Christian view still is that Christ offers hope for an end to all suffering, but that happens at the natural end of this life – not a life brought to early closure.  The endurance of pain and suffering can seem intolerable, and the grasp of hope seemingly so far away.  We must develop ways in which we can assist to bridge the perceived gap between the existential pain and future hope by how we manage our pain, symptoms, and suffering and sense of loss; yet contemporaneously offer support to others afflicted by such suffering, grief and loss.

Continue reading “Report and Recommendations – Joint Select Committee on End of Life Choices”

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Your Thoughts Wanted

Hi folks,

Two quite important matters are being discussed by parliamentary committees here in Western Australia over the next twelve months or so, and I seek your advice, attitudes, and thoughts on these matters.

The first matter, and also being discussed by the New South Wales and Victorian Parliaments respectively, is around “end of life choices”.

I seek your advice, attitudes, and thoughts about this important matter.

Continue reading “Your Thoughts Wanted”

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Unfair Expectations?

I recently chaired an afternoon session for a “Law in Aged Care” seminar in Perth.  It was a very useful day’s focus on the myriad of interaction that aged care providers have with the law daily.  There can be matters associated with town planning, local government, occupational health and safety, fair work, accreditation and liability issues, and that might be just before morning tea …

In October 2017, the residential aged care sector reaches twenty years since the enactment of the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth).  As I recall, for Western Australians it started on Monday 1 October being a public holiday Monday.  The then new Act was a mighty and useful change from the Aged and Disabled Persons Homes Act and the Health Act.  Whilst it has not all been plain sailing the Act pertaining specifically to aged care has, in my view, served Australia well.

Continue reading “Unfair Expectations?”

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How fair is the Western Australian GST share?

 

For months, if not years, we have been hearing about Western Australia’s fair share, or rather the lack of it, with respect to GST payments to the States form the GST raised by the Australian Government.

Western Australia, under the current arrangements, receives just $0.34 from each $1.00 raised from within WA from GST revenue to the Australian Government. It clearly seems unfair. Particularly clearly unfair by direct comparison:
Continue reading “How fair is the Western Australian GST share?”

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Nothing Changes?

This piece was published as ‘The Bones are Bare’ on Australian Ageing Agenda. 

I have been back working in the aged care sector for almost twelve months now – first on an interim basis with Baptistcare here in Perth, and for the past four months or so as Chief Executive with Braemar Presbyterian Care in WA.

One of the most common questions on my return to the sector is about the amount of change there has been in “aged care” since I left the sector back at the end of 2010.

One could say that the change has been enormous, with refundable accommodation deposits now part of residential aged care, and significant changes having been made to funding around client centred care in the community aged care sector.

On the other hand, one could quite calmly suggest that no great change has happened. After all, since I first entered the aged care sector back in 1982, we have had at least some fifteen (perhaps closer to twenty) Australian Government Ministers with responsibility for aged care services over the past thirty years. In that same period, we have had at least three major changes to the funding regimes that providers live with daily.

Continue reading “Nothing Changes?”

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Jason Chatfield

Jason Chatfield is a cartoonist and illustrator based in New York. Raised in Perth, he is Australia’s most widely syndicated cartoonist, producing the iconic comic strip Ginger Meggs which appears daily in 34 countries through Andrews McMeel Syndication.

Chatfield is Vice President of the National Cartoonists’ Society, a past President of the Australian Cartoonists’ Association and currently works from his studio in Manhattan.

Jason is also a professional stand-up comedian. You can find his Comedy Website here.

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About Wayne

Wayne Belcher (OAM) is an experienced Chief Executive in the aged care sector.

Having entered aged care early in his career, he has held roles including Chief Executive of Bethanie as well as a Director and Interim Chief Executive of Baptistcare WA.

Wayne was awarded a Medallion of the Order of Australia in 2007, in recognition of his significant contribution to community services. This in part acknowledged his dedication to aged care as well as the assistance he gave to the Howard Government in an advisory capacity.

Wayne holds postgraduate qualifications in Health Administration, Divinity and Ministry.  He is also alumni at the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania.

Until recently Wayne was a Pastor at Lake Joondalup Baptist Church. In 2017 he joined Braemar as Chief Executive. He will lead Braemar’s service delivery, growth and development into the future.