Social Justice Campaigner to Lead Aged Care Peak Body

Patrick McClure AO has been appointed CEO of peak aged care body Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA).

ACSA President Klaus Zimmermann says McClure’s distinguished career as an advocate, social justice campaigner and dynamic business leader made him a compelling choice for CEO.

ACSA is the national peak body representing Not for Profit and faith-based organisations providing residential and community-based aged care, accommodation and housing.

Zimmermann says the ACSA board is delighted McClure has accepted the position and the challenge to steer the aged care sector through the reform process.

He says McClure’s credentials in the Not for Profit sector are outstanding and will be invaluable as they embark on a new era for aged care following the Productivity Commission inquiry.

McClure says he is enthusiastic about his new role with ACSA, saying it is an exciting time for the sector which has suffered from being left in the “too hard” basket.

He says the profound issues of where and how Australians care for our ageing population came into sharp focus with the release of the 2010 Intergenerational Report.

He says the current Productivity Commission inquiry, Caring for Older Australians, coupled with the Federal Government’s commitment to reform the sector, have opened the door to imperative reforms.

McClure is confident that by working in partnership with the Government, consumers and workers, ACSA can achieve a sustainable aged care system which responds to individual and collective needs now and well into the future.

Patrick McClure was appointed Ethics Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact, University of NSW in 2009. His previous positions include CEO of the Retirement Villages Group, CEO of Mission  Australia and CEO of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (NSW/ACT). McClure was a awarded an Order of Australia (AO) in 2003 for service to the community.

Mr McClure will be based in Canberra from June 1, 2011.