The voice of a rural community: A submission to the Aged Care Royal Commission from Dubbo and surrounds

With the proportion of people aged 65 years or over in the total population projected to increase from 15% at 30 June 2017 to between 21% and 23% in 2066 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2017) now is the time to focus on developing an understanding of what high quality support, care and safety should look like for this population. At a recent aged care community forum held in Dubbo by the Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health (UDRH), School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health Charles Sturt University and co-sponsored by the Dubbo Regional Council, the community was asked to discuss issues associated with ageing in a rural area. The community engaged enthusiastically with the forum and included representatives from many community groups and organisations including local Aboriginal Elders, people with an interest in ageing, the aged community, healthcare professionals and academics. This community submission to the Aged Care Royal Commission outlines how the community forum was organised and the discussion, information and experiences shared by the community of Dubbo and surrounds during the event.