Author Archives: Sarah Russell

Sarah Russell

About Sarah Russell

Dr Sarah Russell is a public health researcher who specialises in qualitative research. She has been the Principal Researcher at Research Matters since 1999. She is also the Director, Aged Care Matters. She believes the aged care system requires greater scrutiny, accountability and transparency.

Aged care, quarantine: open and shut cases of federal responsibility but Morrison won’t step up to the plate

By Sarah Russell | On 5 February 2021

Experts have spent years warning the federal government that pandemics would increase in frequency and severity. Yet the government was asleep at the wheel when Covid hit. Older people paid a heavy price, with Australia having one of the highest … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | 3 Comments

No Plan PM: how government’s lack of an aged care plan cost lives.Typically the PM then blamed others.

By Elizabeth Minter and Sarah Russell | On 6 January 2021

While the federal government indulged in semantics, Covid-19 deaths continued to rise in the woefully under-prepared residential aged care sector. 2020 was a horror year for older people living in residential aged care.

Posted in Politics, Top 5 | 9 Comments

El Cheapo Aged Care: why the Coalition’s make-work schemes won’t work

By Sarah Russell | On 14 December 2020

The best interests of older people are not uppermost in this government’s thinking. Referring to older people requiring care as “consumers”, describing the transfer of residents to hospital as “decanting”, talk of “cohorting” residents into specific sections of a home … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Politics | 1 Comment

Coalition Spin Kings: Expecting accountability in aged care is mere tilting at windmills

By Sarah Russell | On 9 December 2020

The federal Health Department has learnt a thing or two from Scotty from Marketing. It has just announced version seven of the aged care pandemic plan. Never mind that the previous six versions never existed.

Posted in Politics, Top 5 | 2 Comments

Yes Minister: Another day, another aged care scandal

By Sarah Russell | On 30 October 2020

The Morrison government has redefined Westminster ministerial responsibility. No longer does a minister bear ultimate responsibility for the actions of its ministry or department.

Posted in Health, Politics | 2 Comments

Aged care providers have Coalition wrapped around their little fingers

By Sarah Russell | On 6 October 2020

Locking out visitors has made it difficult for staff to meet the daily care needs of aged care residents. So said the royal commissioners. What an indictment on aged care providers. They receive billions a year in funding, yet they … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Politics, Public Policy | 6 Comments