Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia, the peak body representing older Australians at national level, has announced the appointment of Dr Stephen Judd AM as it Inaugural “COTA Fellow”.
COTA Australia Chief Executive, Ian Yates, said COTA has recently established a program of honorary “COTA Fellows”. Fellows are expected to add a significant dimension to the intellectual life of COTA, to contribute to its policy agenda, and to generate significant output – perhaps in the form of a series of ‘position papers’, a COTA Essay, a conference presentation, or a piece of original research. Fellows might also be asked to enhance COTA’s public profile by undertaking media appearances, conference presentations, and writing articles, based on their work as COTA Fellows.
Fellows will mostly be drawn from the ranks of people who have already made a substantial contribution to Australian public life, and have either retired or ‘down-sized’ to part-time professional work – including academics, senior public servants, or senior figures from industry who are interested in making a further contribution in their field of expertise.
Fellows are appointed by the Board of COTA Australia by invitation for an agreed period. In the initial phase of the program COTA Australia is particularly interested in four areas of expertise likely to add a useful dimension to COTA’s knowledge and understanding of emerging issues facing an ageing Australia – including transformative aged care reform; social fragmentation and its implications for social isolation of older people; taxation/superannuation policy – economic and social implications for older people; and First Nations’ Elders and communities.
Dr Stephen Judd AM was for more than 25 years the Chief Executive of HammondCare, one of the leading providers of high-quality specialist dementia care. During his time as CEO of HammondCare it not only grew from a small footprint to being a major provider of both aged care and health care, but it pioneered cottage style residential aged care for people with dementia; led the sector in person centred non-restrictive care for people with dementia with behavioral issues; been a leader in improving not only nutrition in care but the whole meal experience; and has had a major commitment to research and innovation, including a biennial international Conference in Sydney on leading edge approaches to dementia and dementia care.
Stephen Judd has also played many leadership roles in the sector and been a key member of various government advisory bodies. Since stepping down as CEO of HammondCare Stephen has been appointed a Member in the Order of Australia and Senior Visiting Fellow, School of Population Health, UNSW.
COTA Australia Chief Executive Ian Yates said ”COTA is honoured and very pleased that Stephen Judd accepted our invitation to become the Inaugural COTA Fellow. Particular foci of Stephen’s Fellowship will be the future of residential aged care (especially dementia care), enhancing COTA’s input to the aged care reform process; and initiatives addressing social isolation and connectedness among older Australians.”
“COTA Australia looks forward to Stephen Judd’s strong contribution to our advocacy of the rights and interest of older people, especially those in need of additional support and care in later years” Mr Yates said.
COTA chair Jane Halton said the organisation “could not be more delighted Stephen has agreed to join us as the inaugural Fellow. He thinks deeply about the rights of older people, particularly in aged care, and about the respect and dignity they deserve”.
Media contact: Ian Yates 0418 835 439, Hannah Craft 0423 377 965
