Incoming IG Natalie Siegel-Brown says her new role fulfills her passion to see Australians age with human rights and true quality of life.
The government has announced bureaucrat Natalie Siegel-Brown as the incoming Inspector-General of Aged Care.
In her new role, Ms Siegel-Brown will provide independent and impartial supervision of the government’s administration, governance and regulation of aged care.
Ms Siegel-Brown has been a commissioner for social policy with the Productivity Commission since 2022 and a director on the board of Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia for over three years.
She brings a wealth of experience in public policy and service delivery from her previous leadership roles in domestic and family violence, statutory child protection, ageing and disability, in the New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australian and Victorian governments.
Ms Siegel-Brown’s cross-sector experience across a range of social policy areas will bring a fresh perspective to aged care and puts her in good stead to make a real impact to the aged care system in this role, said Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells in a statement.
“We’re making some big changes to aged care in Australia, and the role of Inspector-General of Aged Care has never been more important as we deliver this once-in-a-generation reform,” she said.
“The Inspector-General of Aged Care plays a critical role in ensuring there is appropriate oversight to systemic issues across the sector – be it around funding, regulation, administration or delivery of care to older people.”
Speaking with Australian Ageing Agenda, Ms Siegel-Brown said that her new role “fulfills my passion to see Australians age with more than just their human rights” with “true quality of life” as valued members of our society.
“The flame for transparency and human rights within our system of aged care was ignited for me when I was Queensland Public Guardian, representing the rights and interests of thousands of people in aged care, and as legal intervener in elder abuse in Queensland in that same role,” she said.
“I am a lawyer by trade, but I hope that my years as a statutory oversight body in other areas of care, my dedication to working with people who have lived experience, and my deep commitment to the distinct issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will enhance what I can bring to the role. The Office of the Inspector General is full of hard-working, capable staff and I can’t wait to start working with them to embed an impactful role for the office in the regulatory architecture of aged care.”
The department also acknowledged Acting Inspector-General of Aged Care Ian Yates, who was appointed to the interim position in December 2022, and then appointed Acting Inspector General of Aged Care when the office got underway a year ago. Mr Yates will remain until Ms Siegel-Brown commences her new appointment in January 2025.
The department thanked Mr Yates for his service in the role since its inception in October 2023, and for his “willingness” to step in and provide “leadership and continuity” for this important office over the next few months.
Ms Siegel-Brown will commence in the role in January 2025 and serve for four years and nine months until October 2029.
Visit – https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/noticeboard/govt-appoints-inspector-general-of-aged-care/ for more information!