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The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Aussie's rented rooms to boarders 100 years ago but would it work now?
A joint research study is looking at the viability of home owners renting a spare bedroom to people at risk of homelessness, though some say it opens the door for elder abuse. The University of Sunshine Coast and Anglicare are surveying people nationwide to see if intergenerational share housing could be considered a safe and beneficial practice. Dr Anna McKinley, from the university's School of Law and Society, told The Senior the survey aims to give insight to combat Australia's housing affordability crisis, with researchers hoping present recommendations to policy-makers. Read more from The Senior: "There's lots of people in the community with spare bedrooms that could help minimise the housing crisis if some of these rooms were utilised as share opportunities," Dr McKinley said. "Is that an option? Is that a possibility? What would that mean? What would people want before they would be able to do that?" By finding out directly from homeowners, it is hoped specific requirements will be revealed and discussed, potentially covering topics like safety, legal implications and social impacts. Dr McKinley said there were many people facing housing insecurity "for no fault of their own" and could benefit from a rent-a-room scheme - but the homeowner could also have a positive experience. "It's the people who own a house but are socially poor, or who are cash poor, who could benefit from having a housemate," she said. "And one group of people is the elderly, who are starting to age, but are not at that point yet of needing help. "But to have somebody living with them when they were reaching that stage would be really beneficial." The report would provide a framework on how Anglicare, Southern Queensland, could set up a support service. They then hope to run those support services as a pilot in the next couple of years. Far from being a new concept, Dr McKinley said Australians have rented rooms before. "It's previously worked. If we go back to the 30s, 40s, 50s - last time there was a major housing issue, people did rent out spare rooms, families had a boarder," she said. Dr McKinley admitted that "any system is open to abuse" and the project was keen to see how the risks can be minimised. Housing for the Aged Action Group's (HAAG) new report has shown a clear link between housing and elder abuse. The report looks at older Australians suspected to be victims of abuse who were experiencing housing issues between 2020-2024 and who approached the group for help. The findings revealed elder abuse happened in close family relationships - but also in shared living arrangements. The report stated that "secure and stable housing" is a "critical pathway out of abuse". HAAG's Executive Officer, Fiona York, said the report's "deep dive" reveal many older Australians are living with people who are harming them - but in many cases they had no choice but to stay in the situation. "Rising costs and limited availability of affordable housing leaves many people trapped in cycles of abuse," Ms York said. "Integrating housing support within the broader context of elder abuse and family violence will also be critical to improving outcomes for older people facing abuse and mistreatment." Worryingly, the report also found "older Australians of any age" were at risk of abuse and were likely to be living with the people causing them harm. A lack of knowledge on what constitutes elder abuse among victims was uncovered adding another challenge for older Australians to face - recognising when they were in harms way. It follows comments from a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) economist proposed in April 2025 that homeowners should be incentivised to rent their spare room to a homeless person, as the housing issue is not due to ease until "2029". Dr Lyndall Bryant, from the QUT Centre for Justice and School of Economics and Finance said there were 13 million unused bedrooms in existing housing stock in Australia. "Millions of empty bedrooms exist and yet many older homeowners live in poverty rather than risk losing their pension or paying taxes by renting out a spare bedroom", she previously told The Senior. The University of Sunshine Coast and Anglicare survey can be found on this link. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A joint research study is looking at the viability of home owners renting a spare bedroom to people at risk of homelessness, though some say it opens the door for elder abuse. The University of Sunshine Coast and Anglicare are surveying people nationwide to see if intergenerational share housing could be considered a safe and beneficial practice. Dr Anna McKinley, from the university's School of Law and Society, told The Senior the survey aims to give insight to combat Australia's housing affordability crisis, with researchers hoping present recommendations to policy-makers. Read more from The Senior: "There's lots of people in the community with spare bedrooms that could help minimise the housing crisis if some of these rooms were utilised as share opportunities," Dr McKinley said. "Is that an option? Is that a possibility? What would that mean? What would people want before they would be able to do that?" By finding out directly from homeowners, it is hoped specific requirements will be revealed and discussed, potentially covering topics like safety, legal implications and social impacts. Dr McKinley said there were many people facing housing insecurity "for no fault of their own" and could benefit from a rent-a-room scheme - but the homeowner could also have a positive experience. "It's the people who own a house but are socially poor, or who are cash poor, who could benefit from having a housemate," she said. "And one group of people is the elderly, who are starting to age, but are not at that point yet of needing help. "But to have somebody living with them when they were reaching that stage would be really beneficial." The report would provide a framework on how Anglicare, Southern Queensland, could set up a support service. They then hope to run those support services as a pilot in the next couple of years. Far from being a new concept, Dr McKinley said Australians have rented rooms before. "It's previously worked. If we go back to the 30s, 40s, 50s - last time there was a major housing issue, people did rent out spare rooms, families had a boarder," she said. Dr McKinley admitted that "any system is open to abuse" and the project was keen to see how the risks can be minimised. Housing for the Aged Action Group's (HAAG) new report has shown a clear link between housing and elder abuse. The report looks at older Australians suspected to be victims of abuse who were experiencing housing issues between 2020-2024 and who approached the group for help. The findings revealed elder abuse happened in close family relationships - but also in shared living arrangements. The report stated that "secure and stable housing" is a "critical pathway out of abuse". HAAG's Executive Officer, Fiona York, said the report's "deep dive" reveal many older Australians are living with people who are harming them - but in many cases they had no choice but to stay in the situation. "Rising costs and limited availability of affordable housing leaves many people trapped in cycles of abuse," Ms York said. "Integrating housing support within the broader context of elder abuse and family violence will also be critical to improving outcomes for older people facing abuse and mistreatment." Worryingly, the report also found "older Australians of any age" were at risk of abuse and were likely to be living with the people causing them harm. A lack of knowledge on what constitutes elder abuse among victims was uncovered adding another challenge for older Australians to face - recognising when they were in harms way. It follows comments from a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) economist proposed in April 2025 that homeowners should be incentivised to rent their spare room to a homeless person, as the housing issue is not due to ease until "2029". Dr Lyndall Bryant, from the QUT Centre for Justice and School of Economics and Finance said there were 13 million unused bedrooms in existing housing stock in Australia. "Millions of empty bedrooms exist and yet many older homeowners live in poverty rather than risk losing their pension or paying taxes by renting out a spare bedroom", she previously told The Senior. The University of Sunshine Coast and Anglicare survey can be found on this link. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A joint research study is looking at the viability of home owners renting a spare bedroom to people at risk of homelessness, though some say it opens the door for elder abuse. The University of Sunshine Coast and Anglicare are surveying people nationwide to see if intergenerational share housing could be considered a safe and beneficial practice. Dr Anna McKinley, from the university's School of Law and Society, told The Senior the survey aims to give insight to combat Australia's housing affordability crisis, with researchers hoping present recommendations to policy-makers. Read more from The Senior: "There's lots of people in the community with spare bedrooms that could help minimise the housing crisis if some of these rooms were utilised as share opportunities," Dr McKinley said. "Is that an option? Is that a possibility? What would that mean? What would people want before they would be able to do that?" By finding out directly from homeowners, it is hoped specific requirements will be revealed and discussed, potentially covering topics like safety, legal implications and social impacts. Dr McKinley said there were many people facing housing insecurity "for no fault of their own" and could benefit from a rent-a-room scheme - but the homeowner could also have a positive experience. "It's the people who own a house but are socially poor, or who are cash poor, who could benefit from having a housemate," she said. "And one group of people is the elderly, who are starting to age, but are not at that point yet of needing help. "But to have somebody living with them when they were reaching that stage would be really beneficial." The report would provide a framework on how Anglicare, Southern Queensland, could set up a support service. They then hope to run those support services as a pilot in the next couple of years. Far from being a new concept, Dr McKinley said Australians have rented rooms before. "It's previously worked. If we go back to the 30s, 40s, 50s - last time there was a major housing issue, people did rent out spare rooms, families had a boarder," she said. Dr McKinley admitted that "any system is open to abuse" and the project was keen to see how the risks can be minimised. Housing for the Aged Action Group's (HAAG) new report has shown a clear link between housing and elder abuse. The report looks at older Australians suspected to be victims of abuse who were experiencing housing issues between 2020-2024 and who approached the group for help. The findings revealed elder abuse happened in close family relationships - but also in shared living arrangements. The report stated that "secure and stable housing" is a "critical pathway out of abuse". HAAG's Executive Officer, Fiona York, said the report's "deep dive" reveal many older Australians are living with people who are harming them - but in many cases they had no choice but to stay in the situation. "Rising costs and limited availability of affordable housing leaves many people trapped in cycles of abuse," Ms York said. "Integrating housing support within the broader context of elder abuse and family violence will also be critical to improving outcomes for older people facing abuse and mistreatment." Worryingly, the report also found "older Australians of any age" were at risk of abuse and were likely to be living with the people causing them harm. A lack of knowledge on what constitutes elder abuse among victims was uncovered adding another challenge for older Australians to face - recognising when they were in harms way. It follows comments from a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) economist proposed in April 2025 that homeowners should be incentivised to rent their spare room to a homeless person, as the housing issue is not due to ease until "2029". Dr Lyndall Bryant, from the QUT Centre for Justice and School of Economics and Finance said there were 13 million unused bedrooms in existing housing stock in Australia. "Millions of empty bedrooms exist and yet many older homeowners live in poverty rather than risk losing their pension or paying taxes by renting out a spare bedroom", she previously told The Senior. The University of Sunshine Coast and Anglicare survey can be found on this link. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A joint research study is looking at the viability of home owners renting a spare bedroom to people at risk of homelessness, though some say it opens the door for elder abuse. The University of Sunshine Coast and Anglicare are surveying people nationwide to see if intergenerational share housing could be considered a safe and beneficial practice. Dr Anna McKinley, from the university's School of Law and Society, told The Senior the survey aims to give insight to combat Australia's housing affordability crisis, with researchers hoping present recommendations to policy-makers. Read more from The Senior: "There's lots of people in the community with spare bedrooms that could help minimise the housing crisis if some of these rooms were utilised as share opportunities," Dr McKinley said. "Is that an option? Is that a possibility? What would that mean? What would people want before they would be able to do that?" By finding out directly from homeowners, it is hoped specific requirements will be revealed and discussed, potentially covering topics like safety, legal implications and social impacts. Dr McKinley said there were many people facing housing insecurity "for no fault of their own" and could benefit from a rent-a-room scheme - but the homeowner could also have a positive experience. "It's the people who own a house but are socially poor, or who are cash poor, who could benefit from having a housemate," she said. "And one group of people is the elderly, who are starting to age, but are not at that point yet of needing help. "But to have somebody living with them when they were reaching that stage would be really beneficial." The report would provide a framework on how Anglicare, Southern Queensland, could set up a support service. They then hope to run those support services as a pilot in the next couple of years. Far from being a new concept, Dr McKinley said Australians have rented rooms before. "It's previously worked. If we go back to the 30s, 40s, 50s - last time there was a major housing issue, people did rent out spare rooms, families had a boarder," she said. Dr McKinley admitted that "any system is open to abuse" and the project was keen to see how the risks can be minimised. Housing for the Aged Action Group's (HAAG) new report has shown a clear link between housing and elder abuse. The report looks at older Australians suspected to be victims of abuse who were experiencing housing issues between 2020-2024 and who approached the group for help. The findings revealed elder abuse happened in close family relationships - but also in shared living arrangements. The report stated that "secure and stable housing" is a "critical pathway out of abuse". HAAG's Executive Officer, Fiona York, said the report's "deep dive" reveal many older Australians are living with people who are harming them - but in many cases they had no choice but to stay in the situation. "Rising costs and limited availability of affordable housing leaves many people trapped in cycles of abuse," Ms York said. "Integrating housing support within the broader context of elder abuse and family violence will also be critical to improving outcomes for older people facing abuse and mistreatment." Worryingly, the report also found "older Australians of any age" were at risk of abuse and were likely to be living with the people causing them harm. A lack of knowledge on what constitutes elder abuse among victims was uncovered adding another challenge for older Australians to face - recognising when they were in harms way. It follows comments from a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) economist proposed in April 2025 that homeowners should be incentivised to rent their spare room to a homeless person, as the housing issue is not due to ease until "2029". Dr Lyndall Bryant, from the QUT Centre for Justice and School of Economics and Finance said there were 13 million unused bedrooms in existing housing stock in Australia. "Millions of empty bedrooms exist and yet many older homeowners live in poverty rather than risk losing their pension or paying taxes by renting out a spare bedroom", she previously told The Senior. The University of Sunshine Coast and Anglicare survey can be found on this link. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
The Advertiser
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
PTSD in our elderly is a lesser-known side effect of extreme weather events
A forgotten side effect of extreme weather events, debilitating our elderly, is finally being brought into the light in a push for older Australians to be better cared for. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and social isolation due to displacement and homelessness is not often talked about in mainstream media reports of such events like the Lismore floods or Cyclone Alfred. But the trauma can be intense and long-lasting for older Australians, according to a team from Griffith University and Anglicare Southern Queensland. Read more from The Senior: During a public webinar on June 12, aged care expert Victoria Cain spoke of an Anglicare aged care resident living with dementia who now has severe PTSD "superimposed on his dementia" because of the Lismore floods of 2022. "It's directly related to the floods because of the homelessness, so that alone is quite distressing ... many [aged care] residents have PTSD because of previous storm or flood events," said Ms Cain, Anglicare's Southern Queensland Clinical Lead, Specialist Dementia Care Program. "You then have an increase of isolation for residents who can't actually get out of their rooms or out of the floors. So it leads to isolation, it leads to increased depression, it leads to increased lack of mobility." In another instance, Ms Cain spoke of a recent stay in a hotel in Hervey Bay following Cyclone Alfred where the lifts had been inoperable since March and wouldn't be fixed for another 12 weeks. For some people this may be seen as an inconvenience, but for the elderly woman she met living on the top floor she would be heavily impacted by climbing up and down five flights of stairs every day - almost cut off from the world. Associate Professor Patricia Lee of Griffith University said whether it's bushfires, floods, cyclones or extreme heatwaves they all can have disruptive and harmful consequences on the elderly who need "continuous high care". The university is currently working with Anglicare on a research project investigating climate-change vulnerability on aged care residents and associated health impacts, while also looking at adaption strategies. "Older people are particularly vulnerable due to their age-related health conditions - chronic diseases, the climate vulnerabilities," Professor Lee said. "It can be isolating for people with underlying healthy conditions and also it reduces their mobility and increase social isolation - especially for those who are living alone." The research project will focus on two Queensland regional centres, Toowoomba and Hervey Bay. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A forgotten side effect of extreme weather events, debilitating our elderly, is finally being brought into the light in a push for older Australians to be better cared for. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and social isolation due to displacement and homelessness is not often talked about in mainstream media reports of such events like the Lismore floods or Cyclone Alfred. But the trauma can be intense and long-lasting for older Australians, according to a team from Griffith University and Anglicare Southern Queensland. Read more from The Senior: During a public webinar on June 12, aged care expert Victoria Cain spoke of an Anglicare aged care resident living with dementia who now has severe PTSD "superimposed on his dementia" because of the Lismore floods of 2022. "It's directly related to the floods because of the homelessness, so that alone is quite distressing ... many [aged care] residents have PTSD because of previous storm or flood events," said Ms Cain, Anglicare's Southern Queensland Clinical Lead, Specialist Dementia Care Program. "You then have an increase of isolation for residents who can't actually get out of their rooms or out of the floors. So it leads to isolation, it leads to increased depression, it leads to increased lack of mobility." In another instance, Ms Cain spoke of a recent stay in a hotel in Hervey Bay following Cyclone Alfred where the lifts had been inoperable since March and wouldn't be fixed for another 12 weeks. For some people this may be seen as an inconvenience, but for the elderly woman she met living on the top floor she would be heavily impacted by climbing up and down five flights of stairs every day - almost cut off from the world. Associate Professor Patricia Lee of Griffith University said whether it's bushfires, floods, cyclones or extreme heatwaves they all can have disruptive and harmful consequences on the elderly who need "continuous high care". The university is currently working with Anglicare on a research project investigating climate-change vulnerability on aged care residents and associated health impacts, while also looking at adaption strategies. "Older people are particularly vulnerable due to their age-related health conditions - chronic diseases, the climate vulnerabilities," Professor Lee said. "It can be isolating for people with underlying healthy conditions and also it reduces their mobility and increase social isolation - especially for those who are living alone." The research project will focus on two Queensland regional centres, Toowoomba and Hervey Bay. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A forgotten side effect of extreme weather events, debilitating our elderly, is finally being brought into the light in a push for older Australians to be better cared for. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and social isolation due to displacement and homelessness is not often talked about in mainstream media reports of such events like the Lismore floods or Cyclone Alfred. But the trauma can be intense and long-lasting for older Australians, according to a team from Griffith University and Anglicare Southern Queensland. Read more from The Senior: During a public webinar on June 12, aged care expert Victoria Cain spoke of an Anglicare aged care resident living with dementia who now has severe PTSD "superimposed on his dementia" because of the Lismore floods of 2022. "It's directly related to the floods because of the homelessness, so that alone is quite distressing ... many [aged care] residents have PTSD because of previous storm or flood events," said Ms Cain, Anglicare's Southern Queensland Clinical Lead, Specialist Dementia Care Program. "You then have an increase of isolation for residents who can't actually get out of their rooms or out of the floors. So it leads to isolation, it leads to increased depression, it leads to increased lack of mobility." In another instance, Ms Cain spoke of a recent stay in a hotel in Hervey Bay following Cyclone Alfred where the lifts had been inoperable since March and wouldn't be fixed for another 12 weeks. For some people this may be seen as an inconvenience, but for the elderly woman she met living on the top floor she would be heavily impacted by climbing up and down five flights of stairs every day - almost cut off from the world. Associate Professor Patricia Lee of Griffith University said whether it's bushfires, floods, cyclones or extreme heatwaves they all can have disruptive and harmful consequences on the elderly who need "continuous high care". The university is currently working with Anglicare on a research project investigating climate-change vulnerability on aged care residents and associated health impacts, while also looking at adaption strategies. "Older people are particularly vulnerable due to their age-related health conditions - chronic diseases, the climate vulnerabilities," Professor Lee said. "It can be isolating for people with underlying healthy conditions and also it reduces their mobility and increase social isolation - especially for those who are living alone." The research project will focus on two Queensland regional centres, Toowoomba and Hervey Bay. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A forgotten side effect of extreme weather events, debilitating our elderly, is finally being brought into the light in a push for older Australians to be better cared for. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and social isolation due to displacement and homelessness is not often talked about in mainstream media reports of such events like the Lismore floods or Cyclone Alfred. But the trauma can be intense and long-lasting for older Australians, according to a team from Griffith University and Anglicare Southern Queensland. Read more from The Senior: During a public webinar on June 12, aged care expert Victoria Cain spoke of an Anglicare aged care resident living with dementia who now has severe PTSD "superimposed on his dementia" because of the Lismore floods of 2022. "It's directly related to the floods because of the homelessness, so that alone is quite distressing ... many [aged care] residents have PTSD because of previous storm or flood events," said Ms Cain, Anglicare's Southern Queensland Clinical Lead, Specialist Dementia Care Program. "You then have an increase of isolation for residents who can't actually get out of their rooms or out of the floors. So it leads to isolation, it leads to increased depression, it leads to increased lack of mobility." In another instance, Ms Cain spoke of a recent stay in a hotel in Hervey Bay following Cyclone Alfred where the lifts had been inoperable since March and wouldn't be fixed for another 12 weeks. For some people this may be seen as an inconvenience, but for the elderly woman she met living on the top floor she would be heavily impacted by climbing up and down five flights of stairs every day - almost cut off from the world. Associate Professor Patricia Lee of Griffith University said whether it's bushfires, floods, cyclones or extreme heatwaves they all can have disruptive and harmful consequences on the elderly who need "continuous high care". The university is currently working with Anglicare on a research project investigating climate-change vulnerability on aged care residents and associated health impacts, while also looking at adaption strategies. "Older people are particularly vulnerable due to their age-related health conditions - chronic diseases, the climate vulnerabilities," Professor Lee said. "It can be isolating for people with underlying healthy conditions and also it reduces their mobility and increase social isolation - especially for those who are living alone." The research project will focus on two Queensland regional centres, Toowoomba and Hervey Bay. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
ABC News
18-05-2025
- ABC News
Alleged sexual assaults in Broome spark calls for action
A support service for victims of sexual assault in Western Australia's north says the community should be deeply concerned by two alleged public attacks in one of the Kimberley's main towns. Men have been arrested and charged in connection with both alleged attacks, with both due to face court again in coming weeks. Both the unconnected attacks were reported in Broome, 2,000 kilometres north of Perth, in the past seven days. A 23-year-old woman was allegedly indecently assaulted while sunbaking at Town Beach about 2:40 pm last Wednesday. In a separate incident earlier in the week, a woman in her 40s, was allegedly physically attacked before a man attempted to indecently assault her, while walking on a public street at night. Anglicare's Kimberley Sexual Abuse Prevention and Support Service counsellor Kaz Fitpatrick said the advice from authorities for women in the community to be mindful of their safety reflected a broader problem. "Everybody has the right to feel safe at all times, no matter where they are. Asking an individual to ensure their own safety — that's impossible," Ms Fitzpatrick said. "I'm not in control of everyone's thoughts and feelings and behaviours. Sadly, we live in a world where people make choices that we have no control over." Ms Fitzpatrick said the required change included better support for victims to access both the justice system and support. "It can impact every part of their life, emotionally, physically, socially, economically, there's so much," she said. Police crime statistics show 102 reported sexual offences in the Broome suburb of Roebuck in 2024, up from 66 the year prior. Kimberley Police superintendent John Hutchison said any offence in the Broome community was of concern to him. "I want the community to be safe and I want the community to feel safe. When these reports come in, it's very troubling for me," he said. Superintendent Hutchison said the welfare of victims remained the number one priority for police responding to reported sex offences. In the investigation of one of the recent assaults in Broome, Superintendent Hutchison said a team of specialist detectives was deployed from Perth. "That's the kind of resources we will throw at any of these offences in order to make the community safer," he said. He said people should continue to be aware of their surroundings. "Obviously there are members of our community who unfortunately seek to commit offences out there," Superintendent Hutchison said. "Police can't be everywhere all the time; however I know for a fact in Broome itself, their police are never very far away." Shire of Broome President Chris Mitchell said most crime was "opportunistic" and urged all members of the public to take safety precautions. "You should be safe anywhere in Broome, just be mindful of what you're doing and any suspicious behaviour, make sure you report it," Cr Mitchell said. Cr Mitchell said the council had been lobbying the state and federal governments for better infrastructure to safeguard Broome citizens. "We're trying to come up with new solutions and ways to make things even better but the main issue is trying to get funding for those cameras (CCTV) and streetlights."
West Australian
02-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Court approves payout after COVID-19 aged care deaths
Families of those who passed away in a deadly COVID-19 outbreak are set to be compensated months after an aged care operator's failings were exposed. As the virus ripped through Sydney's Newmarch House over 65 days from April to June 2020, 19 people died and many more became sick. Now family members of some who died will receive financial compensation after reaching a settlement with aged care provider Anglicare Sydney in the NSW Supreme Court in November. On Friday, Justice Peter Garling signed off on the payout after receiving confidential material from lawyers at class action law firm Shine. "It's my view based on what I'm told that this proposed settlement is manifestly in the interests of the plaintiff and the group members," he said. "Accordingly, I am satisfied that it's fair and reasonable." The exact amount that will be paid remains under wraps. Ann Fahey was one of those who died after being exposed to the COVID virus. "I will always feel that nan was robbed of a few more years on this earth because of the pandemic," her granddaughter Nicole Jagodzinski said in November. "The settlement is necessary acknowledgement of what we have endured as a family, as a result of losing her through tragic circumstances." Class action barrister Michael Tanevski told the court on Friday that 22 people were eligible to receive payment. Another individual is awaiting psychiatric assessment with a report expected in July to determine whether they are also eligible. Before any funds are distributed, Shine requires proof that a person has a recognised psychiatric illness which was either caused by the death of a loved one at Newmarch or because of Anglicare's alleged negligence. Mr Tanevski told the court that three of those registered to the class action would not receive any payment as they did not have a psychiatric condition linked with the outbreak. Shine represents relatives of six of the 19 residents who died from COVID-19 as well as others who died at the nursing home. In January, a coroner's findings exposed serious missteps and leadership failures at Newmarch which exacerbated the impact of the outbreak. Some deaths could have been avoided had proper testing for the virus been implemented during the 2020 outbreak, NSW deputy state coroner Derek Lee found in his 344-page judgment. Residents were also left without medication, food and water during the breakdown in services, while senior executives were notable in their "almost complete absence" from the under-siege facility. At the time, Anglicare chief executive Simon Miller apologised on behalf of the faith-based provider. "We are sorry for the stress experienced, for the loss of life during the COVID-19 outbreak in Newmarch House for the residents, their families and their loved ones," he said. "There have been many improvements since that time - much has changed in the way COVID is managed, not just at Anglicare but right across the aged-care sector."
Perth Now
02-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Court approves payout after COVID-19 aged care deaths
Families of those who passed away in a deadly COVID-19 outbreak are set to be compensated months after an aged care operator's failings were exposed. As the virus ripped through Sydney's Newmarch House over 65 days from April to June 2020, 19 people died and many more became sick. Now family members of some who died will receive financial compensation after reaching a settlement with aged care provider Anglicare Sydney in the NSW Supreme Court in November. On Friday, Justice Peter Garling signed off on the payout after receiving confidential material from lawyers at class action law firm Shine. "It's my view based on what I'm told that this proposed settlement is manifestly in the interests of the plaintiff and the group members," he said. "Accordingly, I am satisfied that it's fair and reasonable." The exact amount that will be paid remains under wraps. Ann Fahey was one of those who died after being exposed to the COVID virus. "I will always feel that nan was robbed of a few more years on this earth because of the pandemic," her granddaughter Nicole Jagodzinski said in November. "The settlement is necessary acknowledgement of what we have endured as a family, as a result of losing her through tragic circumstances." Class action barrister Michael Tanevski told the court on Friday that 22 people were eligible to receive payment. Another individual is awaiting psychiatric assessment with a report expected in July to determine whether they are also eligible. Before any funds are distributed, Shine requires proof that a person has a recognised psychiatric illness which was either caused by the death of a loved one at Newmarch or because of Anglicare's alleged negligence. Mr Tanevski told the court that three of those registered to the class action would not receive any payment as they did not have a psychiatric condition linked with the outbreak. Shine represents relatives of six of the 19 residents who died from COVID-19 as well as others who died at the nursing home. In January, a coroner's findings exposed serious missteps and leadership failures at Newmarch which exacerbated the impact of the outbreak. Some deaths could have been avoided had proper testing for the virus been implemented during the 2020 outbreak, NSW deputy state coroner Derek Lee found in his 344-page judgment. Residents were also left without medication, food and water during the breakdown in services, while senior executives were notable in their "almost complete absence" from the under-siege facility. At the time, Anglicare chief executive Simon Miller apologised on behalf of the faith-based provider. "We are sorry for the stress experienced, for the loss of life during the COVID-19 outbreak in Newmarch House for the residents, their families and their loved ones," he said. "There have been many improvements since that time - much has changed in the way COVID is managed, not just at Anglicare but right across the aged-care sector."
