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How We Help

Aged Care Justice is a national charity and specialist legal service assisting older Australians and their families to resolve disputes with aged care providers. We provide free initial legal support, education and referral services, while advocating for law reform across the aged care sector.

We assist with a broad range of aged care matters related to elder abuse and neglect, including quality of care concerns, service agreements and fees, restrictive practices, guardianship, and review of complaints to the regulator.

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Legal Support

Our Community Lawyer provides free legal advice and initial legal support and our national Legal Panel of firms that specialise in aged care issues are also provide a free consultation. Read more.

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Education and Reform

For information on your legal rights related to aged care, including fact sheets and videos for the public, legal professionals, and the aged care sector, click here.
We advocate for aged care reform through submissions, government consultations and appearances before parliamentary inquiries.

Who We Are

Aged Care Justice was established in 2020 by senior legal and healthcare professionals in response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which identified widespread failures within Australia's aged care system.

Aged Care Justice’s current Chair is Sue Williamson, a partner with Dentons, who is actively involved in volunteering in the palliative care space.
Our work combines direct legal support, legal education and systemic advocacy to improve outcomes for people receiving aged care across Australia.
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The Honourable Tony Pagone KC

Co-Patron

The Honourable Tony Pagone KC, a Co-Patron of Aged Care Justice, a former Federal Court Judge and Chair of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

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Dr Bryan Keon-Cohen AM KC

Co-Patron

Dr Bryan Keon-Cohen AM KC, now retired, practised at the Victorian Bar for 35 years, focusing on the protection of human rights, including native title claims.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to provide access to justice for older people living in Australia to improve aged care delivery and personal rights.

We believe every person receiving aged care has the right to be treated with respect, exercise choice and control over their life, and receive safe, high-quality care.
Through legal assistance, education and systemic advocacy, we work to empower older Australians and their families and strengthen protections against abuse and neglect.

Why Aged Care Justice

Aged Care Justice is led by experienced lawyers who understand the legal issues affecting older Australians.

Our inquiry has shown unacceptable levels of substandard care in Australia’s aged care system.

The breadth of the evidence and the consistency of people’s experiences suggest that high quality aged care is not being delivered consistently in our aged care system, particularly in residential aged care. Looking at people’s experience of substandard care and the available data about quality, people in aged care cannot be confident that they will receive the care that they need, whether it be in relation to their health, social, cultural or emotional needs, or that they will avoid experiencing restrictive practices or abuse.

The extent of substandard care in Australia’s aged care system is inexcusable. On the best evidence available, Commissioner Briggs concludes that at least 1 in 3 people accessing residential aged care and home care services have experienced substandard care.

In overhauling the aged care system, the voices of people receiving care must be a priority to ensure that the system remains relevant and appropriate for the people it is intended to support.

Publications and News

Articles

Human Rights and Aged Care
March 17, 2023

In reconceptualising Australia’s obligations to its older people, seeing them not as vulnerable but as active right holders, the human rights approach has the ability to improve the standard of care delivered by aged care providers.

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Case Studies

Negligent Care Within Aged Care Facilities All Too Common
October 13, 2021

We acted for the daughter and granddaughter of a man (Mr W) who died as a result of the negligent care he received at an aged cared facility in Parramatta, New South Wales.

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Aged Care Justice News

ALARMing trend in aged care abuse to be tackled by Aged Care Justice
August 9, 2022

For nearly 2 years ALARM has been focused on reducing the abuse and neglect exposed by the Royal Commission into Aged Care (Royal Commission) by ensuring aged care residents have a means to access legal support.

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Have You or a Family Member Suffered?

We can help

By sending us your details and information about the experience of you or your family member, we can connect you with an appropriate legal firm to seek justice.

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