Posted on

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?”

Posted on

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?”

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.