‘I speak without fear or favour’: Advocate steps up to replace Hunt in federal seat

One of the aged care sector's most outspoken advocates has announced she will enter the race to replace Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt in the independent seat of Flinders during the upcoming election.

Director of Aged Care Matters and public health researcher, Dr Sarah Russell, has spent five years advocating for systemic change in the aged care sector.

The longtime activist said one of her main aims is to embed the voices and interests of the community, including older Australians, into political policies and change.

“We need our aged care minister and our aged care services minister to go into aged care homes and see what is going on," Russell said.

“We need to fix these fundamental, systemic problems that are causing older people in aged care homes to experience neglect, abuse, medication errors, trauma – we must stop all this, and that’s what I'll be advocating for.”

Russell spoke to Aged Care Insite about her plans for the upcoming election.

Do you have an idea for a story?
Email [email protected]