Meet Margaret Walsh, member of the Council of Elders
Margaret Walsh is a member of the Aged Care Council of Elders. The council provides advice to the government about aged care and ageing well. Council members engage with older people about changes to aged care.
Margaret has a great deal of professional experience in health and aged care. A former nurse, she has also managed organisations that provide services to people living with disability and those accessing aged care.
Margaret is an active community representative for the Older Person Health Network Expert Advisory Group in Western Australia and a board member of the Australian Independent Retirees.
"Everyone's situation is different and everyone has a right to actively participate in decisions about their health, their care and their lives more broadly," Margaret shared.
Margaret has been a passionate disability advocate for more than 20 years and, since retiring, has focused on the health and aged care sector.
Margaret was recognised for her work in 2011 when she was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia for her services to people with disability.
Margaret is committed to inclusion and advocating for the rights of older people. "The changes being made to aged care matter. They will affect every single Australian, including my grandchildren," said Margaret. "The opportunity we have right now to contribute to that change, as community members and in our role on the council is crucial."
Margaret has been a member of the Council of Elders since its inception in 2021. She said, "I feel proud that I've had the privilege of working with a group of people who are so passionate about aged care and who know so much about the needs of older people."
Watch Margaret's video to find out more about her interest in aged care and the role of the Council of Elders:
My name is Margaret Walsh. I'm from Perth, Western Australia, and I'm a member of the Council of Elders.
The changes to aged care matter because this affects every single Australian, including my grandchildren. I think it'll change a few times before they come to use it, but it will affect everyone. And this is the first opportunity that we've all had to input into the things affecting us and the policies and legislation that's changing.
I feel proud of the fact that we have been able to inform the government of what we need and what our friends and families need for the future. I feel proud of the fact that I've been able to and had the privilege of working together with a group of other people who are so passionate about the need for aged care and who know so much about what the needs are of all the people in the community.
I feel very proud that I've been able to raise awareness in the community of the need for us to have input and to encourage people to have input into the aged care reforms that are going on at the moment. It's been a wonderful experience having two years already on the council, but it's not finished and I wanted to come back to see that job finished and to make sure that it is going to meet our needs. And that we can hope for a good system in the future.
To keep up-to-date with the aged care reforms and the work of the council, visit the Aged Care Council of Elders Facebook page or webpage.
Let's change aged care, together
Every Australian should feel confident about accessing high quality and safe aged care, when and where they need it.
The changes mean Older people will have greater choice and control, services that respect and meet their needs, and support to stay independent as they age.
To find out more and help design the changes, visit the Get Involved page or call 1800 318 209.