Three Minute Thesis 2022

2022 Faculty Finalists

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• Overall winner: Megan Taylor, Faculty of Design and Society

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• Runner-up and People's Choice Winner: Ayusha Dahal, Faculty of Science

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• Indra Mckie, Faculty of Design and Society

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• Isabelle Schaefer, Faculty of Health

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• Jason Graham-Nye, Institute for Sustainable Futures

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• Karen Donner, Faculty of Law

  Karen's video is not available. Please see the transcript below:

  This is a photo of Min and Rose. They recently suffered a mishap at Zumba and they both broke their shoulders. Min’s 80 and she lives in the home where she raised her family. Rose has lived in her unit for the last 50 of her 90 years. Both are in great health. Rose thinks that's because she's never had to worry about a partner or kids. Before they can be discharged from hospital, the social worker says they'll need to arrange support at home. Rose calls My Aged Care answers a heap of questions and tries not to sound too decrepit. A RAS assessor calls her, asks more questions and tells her she can get some entry-level services like cleaning and shopping. Min’s daughter calls My Aged Care for her. She's had experience with aged care assessments for her father and insists Min has an ACAT assessment, not a RAS. Min is assessed as eligible for a level two home care package, which will help with her personal care. Min goes home with her daughter to care for her until she gets her package. Rose also goes home, but briefly, because she falls and breaks her other arm trying to dress herself. This time, the social worker calls my Aged Care and an ACAT assessor visits Rose. The ACAT says she's eligible for a level three home care package, but she can't make her high priority, so she'll need to go to an aged care facility for now. The assessor’s office has already hit a 15% cap on high-priority cases for this month.

  With the length of the queue for home care packages, Rose will probably wait for about six months. The assessor is busy, so she also approves her for permanent residential care, so she doesn't have to go back and assess her again too soon. Rose moves to the nicest facility her niece from Perth can find. Rose hates residential care. She loses her zest for life, her health declines and her stay is extended. Ten months later, Rose is found dead in her room. She's still waiting for that home care package.

  Rose is based on my neighbour whose experience led me to pursue this research. The Australian Government rations aged care resources by capping funding to the sector. The Royal Commission recommended needs-based funding to replace this rationing. The rationing also occurs at an individual level through the assessment process. The significance of my research is in understanding this micro-level rationing.

  I'm using a mixed methods research strategy to understand how rationing occurs in the assessment process, how it's regulated, and how it impacts older Australians. The Research includes four phases: documentary research, using the data gathered by the Royal Commission; legal research to understand the legal framework for assessments; interviews with ex-ACAT assessors across Australia; and interviews with a case study of current assessors.

  Rose’s story illustrates my findings to date. The current assessment process causes many older Australians to move prematurely into residential care or die waiting for appropriate home care. The Australian Government is developing new aged care laws and a new home care program. The key impact of my research is using my findings: to evaluate these reforms; and to identify changes that will enable a fairer allocation of resources, so we can stop neglecting older Australians and treat them with care, dignity and respect.

• Kavindie Hansika Katuwandeniya, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology

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• Rowena Ditzell, Faculty of Business

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