A fortnightly newsletter from Acting National Director Martin J. Cowling

• Introduction
• 25th Target UnitingCare Christmas Appeal aims to be best yet
• Stop the cuts to aged care funding update
• Halving homelessness think tank
• Submission on elder abuse
• Coca-Cola signs off for charity
• Recapturing Our Soul
• NDIS Housing Forum
• Fourth aged care workforce census and survey
• Tips for 'Intrepreneurs'
• Stories of child abuse
• Calendar

The UnitingCare network’s approach to older people is guided and informed by the United Nations Principles for Older Persons which focus on Independence, Participation, Care, Self-fulfilment and Dignity and by an overall safe church approach to ensure the protection of vulnerable people.

UnitingCare Australia welcomes moves today by Greens Senator Rachel Siewert to refer proposed changes to the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) announced in the mid-year economic and fiscal review and 2016-17 Federal Budget to a Senate Committee.

Pressure on public hospitals in States and Territories will worsen significantly because of more than $2 billion in Federal Government cuts to aged care health funding, one of Australia’s largest not-forprofit aged care providers said today.

Aged care residents in Australia will be hit hard by Federal Government funding cuts which threaten vulnerable and sick older people, Chair of the UnitingCare Australia Aged Care Network Steve Teulan said today.

The Federal Government is set to cut the Complex Health Care element of the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) by $1.2 billion over four years in the 2016-17 Budget, on top of $750 million which was cut in December 2015. Independent modelling suggests the real impact of the cuts will more than $2.5billion.

UnitingCare Australia today welcomed the call by the Australian Labor Party for the Government to publicly release its modelling on the impact of the funding cuts to aged care.

• Introduction
• Agedcare Funding update
• Campaign to reduce homelessness
• Social housing - Social cohesion and economic growth
• UnitingCare West celebrates 10 years
• Young dancer realises dream thanks to scholarship program
• Simpler system for government grants
• Visit to Kormilda College, Darwin
• Calendar

• Introduction
• UnitingCare Australia's National Committee and Networks
• Planning for Christmas Appeal
• "I'm not homeless anymore"
• Political meetings to address homelessness in Australia
• Data set for housing forum
• UnitingCare Australia's new website up soon
• Heads of church meeting
• Social Policy Network
• Aged Care Open Day
• Calendar

In this issue:

• Farewell message from Lin
• Introduction
• Campaign to halve homelessness by 2025
• Aged Care Forum: Sharing and Innovation
• Report on Disability Forum
• UnitingCare LifeAssist recognised for innovation
• Resthaven employs Australia's first specialist aged care palliative care nurse practitioner
• ReGen collaboration reaps rewards
• Calendar