Gd Kearney: Because We Care

Union leader to speak in Blue Mountains about Aged Care

“Because We Care”, the Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc is pleased to announce that the President of the ACTU, Ged Kearney will be speaking at “Politics in the Pub” at Blackburns Family Hotel in Katoomba on Saturday, 16th April in support of the Australian Nursing Federation's “Because We Care” campaign and the NSW Nurses' Association's Quality Aged Care Action Group Inc (QACAG Inc).

“Quality Aged Care benefits all those who receive care, will need care in the future, entrust the care of family to the aged care industry, work as aged care professionals and need support to provide unpaid care at home.” said Ged Kearney, President of the ACTU.

“The recent release of the Productivity Commission's draft report ”Caring for Older Australians” recognises that inferior Aged Care services are a burden on the Australian people and economy but underestimates the importance of those factors which put the “Quality” into Aged Care, the people, the resources and accountability.”

Ms Kearney became a Registered Nurse in 1985. She was elected Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation in 2008, being an elected official of the ANF since 2003. Before her election as President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in 2010 she was actively involved in the development of the “Because We Care” campaign which she will be speaking about at Politics in the Pub.

Also speaking is Stella Topaz of the NSW Nurses Association, Shirley Ross-Shuley and Annette Peters.

Stella Topaz will talk about the work of the Quality Aged Care Action Group (QACAG) Inc which is made up of people from many interests and backgrounds brought together by common concerns about the quality of care for people in aged care. The membership includes nurses and retired nurses, people receiving aged care services, family and friends of people in nursing homes, people who work in aged care or health and other concerned community members.

Shirley Ross-Shuley is a Nurse Educator and Annette Peters is a Registered Nurse. They are Blue Mountains locals who will share their perspective from working “at the coal face” in Aged Care.

“Because We Care” Politics in the Pub will start at 2.30pm on Saturday, 16th April 2011 at Blackburns Family Hotel, 15 Parke St, Katoomba.

The audience will have an opportunity to ask the speakers questions until 4.30pm. Further information is available on the Blue Mountains Unions Council website www.bmucinc.com, the BMUC Facebook page or by contacting Debra Smith on (02) 47871401 or Shirley Ross-Shuley on (02) 47825062.