Comment
Big changes at COTA
It’s time for big changes at Council on the Ageing; it has announced a partnership, with a view to merging, with National Seniors Association , and its head, Denys Correll is off overseas. VERONICA SHEEN explains.
Australia’s two largest aged organisations – COTA and NSA are combining forces to offer a stronger voice for seniors nationally, and increased services and benefits for members.
Their combined membership will top the RSL and make them second largest only to the state roads and motorists organisations. These total numbers add to each organisation’s current bargaining power and improved benefits are expected before too long. Insurance, where both organisations are already strong, is an obvious area for growth, along with travel and other ‘seniors’ specials’.
Members will have a greater opportunity to debate and participate in policy affecting older Australians. Policy Councils will be established in every state and territory, and will send representatives to a National Policy Council.
Both organisations have officially advised their members of the changes, and are now preparing for the legal and constitutional steps required to establish the partnership. For COTA these will culminate in a Special General Meeting in Melbourne in late July.
This meeting will also combine with the official farewell to its National Executive Director, Denys Correll. He is off to London to head up the International Council on Social Welfare. He has led COTA for 11 years, during which time it has increased its membership, range and quality of publications and become a respected and influential advocate for the interests of older Australians.
During his time with COTA Correll has worked towards giving older Australians a major voice in national policy. His appointments to numerous government committees have ensured that this voice has been heard. During his time with COTA, he has seen the aged care reforms, the very successful COTA leadership of the non government contribution to the International Year of Older Persons and mature age employment becoming a major issue since it was the theme of COTA’s first national congress in 1999. A major factor in his new appointment was his age (54) and his years of experience.
Solutions for the future
The partnership/merger is occurring at a time of great interest in policies for an ageing Australia. The Federal Government has produced A National Strategy for an Ageing Australia, in a process involving COTA, NSA and older Australians. It has also produced an Intergenerational Report from Treasury with no obvious input from the Department of Health and Ageing which has policy responsibilities in this area, or from COTA and NSA.
The new Partnership promises to come up with solutions for an ageing Australia, which involve and represent the views of older Australians. It will expect a fair hearing, respect and proper consideration from the Government for its views and its members- all 270,000 plus of them.
