Requesting Independent Review and Leadership Change at the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)

Primary Recipient:

The Hon. Minister for Aged Care
Australian Government

Copied To:

Inspector-General of Aged Care
Attn: Natalie Seigle-Brown
OPAN Board of Directors

 
From:

Community members, older Australians, families, carers, advocates, frontline workers, and concerned citizens across Australia

Purpose of Petition

We submit this petition to raise concerns regarding public confidence in the leadership and governance of the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN).

OPAN plays a critical national role in advocating for the rights, dignity, and safety of older Australians. Strong, independent, transparent, and trusted leadership is essential to ensure effective representation - particularly for vulnerable seniors who rely on advocacy to speak up safely.

This petition is made in good faith and reflects growing concern within parts of the community regarding leadership confidence and the need for transparent, independent review.

Who We Are

We are older Australians, family members of people receiving aged care, carers, frontline workers, advocates, and community members from across Australia.

Many of us have direct lived experience navigating the aged care system- supporting loved ones in residential care, accessing home care services, or advocating for seniors’ rights. Others are committed to ensuring national advocacy remains independent, accountable, and community-driven.

We are not a political organisation. We are community voices seeking to strengthen advocacy and maintain public confidence in organisations funded to represent older Australians.

Petition supported by:

• Older Australians and aged care consumers
• Families and carers
• Community advocates
• Frontline aged care workers (current and former)
• Concerned citizens committed to strong independent advocacy

Why This Matters to Older Australians

Independent advocacy allows seniors to:

• Raise concerns safely
• Understand and exercise their rights
• Speak up without fear of repercussions
• Access trusted support when vulnerable

When public confidence in advocacy leadership declines:

• Seniors may hesitate to seek help
• Families lose confidence in protective systems
• Lived experience voices risk being unheard
• Trust in aged care reform is weakened
• Accountability across the aged care system may be reduced

Older Australians deserve advocacy organisations that are transparent, independent, and widely trusted.

Risks When Advocacy Is Seen as Following Government Rather Than Community Voices

Independent advocacy must remain fearless and community-driven. When advocacy is perceived as aligning too closely with government priorities rather than lived experience, risks include:

• Reduced independence and reduced willingness to challenge harmful policy
• Filtering or minimising lived experience
• Loss of trust among vulnerable seniors
• Weakening of system accountability
• Tokenistic consultation instead of genuine engagement
• Erosion of public confidence in aged care reform

Signs Community and Stakeholder Confidence Has Lapsed

Petitioners believe confidence has declined based on patterns observed within the community and sector, including:

• Growing stakeholder disengagement and disconnection from decision-making
• Perception that advocacy positions may reflect government priorities over community voices
• Limited transparency around governance decisions or organisational direction
• Increasing dissatisfaction expressed by community members and advocates
• Reluctance among some individuals to raise concerns due to fear of not being represented independently
• Emerging calls within the community for accountability, independent review, and leadership change

These indicators support the need for careful, independent assessment.

What We Are Asking For

We respectfully call on the Minister for Aged Care to:

• Initiate an independent external review into OPAN’s governance, leadership effectiveness, and stakeholder confidence
• Engage directly with older Australians, families, carers, and frontline advocates during the review
• Consider leadership change, including removal where confidence is demonstrably compromised
• Ensure future leadership structures prioritise independence, transparency, accountability, and meaningful community engagement

Closing Statement

This petition is submitted in good faith to strengthen national advocacy and ensure older Australians continue to have a strong, independent voice.

We believe transparent review and leadership renewal- where necessary - will help restore trust, reinforce accountability, and protect the integrity of aged care advocacy across Australia.