Aged Care Workforce Industry Council appoints first Chair

Former Director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), Ms Lyons will lead the Council in delivering workforce reform for the aged care sector.

Ms Lyons says the ACWIC has made important inroads in the delivery of ‘A Matter of Care’ workforce strategy under the leadership of Acting Chair, Kevin McCoy; Chief Executive Officer, Louise O’Neill, and her team, and the ACWIC Council Directors.

“I am excited to build on this momentum and work in collaboration with all industry partners who share in the vision of having a respected, skilled and well supported workforce,” says Ms Lyons. 

“I only see great things to come.”

Mr McCoy says the Council is thrilled with the new appointment, which commences on 1 July 2020, and that Ms Lyon brings world class leadership and change management experience as she has been a vocal advocate for gender equality on a global scale for many years.

“This is an incredibly important role implementing A Matter of Care, Australia’s aged care workforce strategy, as highlighted in the recent recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety,” says Mr McCoy.

“With the current unprecedented focus on aged care and its workforce, [Ms Lyon’s] appointment will strengthen the Council’s ability to reshape how Australians view the sector and how we as industry leaders support our workforce to deliver care and support that older Australians expect and deserve.”

Mr McCoy adds that the Directors of the Council want to be disruptive in their work, to think in a way that challenges the status quo, to address issues that have remained unresolved for too long.

Do you have any industry updates you would like to appear on the Talking Aged Care noticeboard? Send an email through to journalist@dps.com.au.