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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-06-21 Daily Xml
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Chinese Aged-Care Mission

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:29): I rise to speak about the recent successful mission to South Australia by 12 Chinese aged-care managers who visited Adelaide for training by local aged-care experts. On behalf of the Minister for Health Industries, the Hon. Jack Snelling MP, I was pleased to welcome the delegation from the city of Qingdao of the Shandong Province. South Australia has a long history of engagement with China and, in particular, the Shandong Province, with 2016 marking our 30th anniversary as a sister state. Last year also marked the 15-year anniversary of the sister city relationship between Adelaide and Qingdao.

Recognising the importance of these longstanding relationships, the Shandong government and Health Industries South Australia signed a letter of intent in 2015 to enhance exchange and cooperation and to promote joint development in health and medical care between our regions. An exciting outcome from our previous business mission to Shandong was the establishment of Australian Aged Care and Health Export Services, a partnership of the ACH group, the University of South Australia and other specialist aged-care providers to pursue trading opportunities with aged-care businesses in China.

Following two years of discussion with municipal governments and aged-care providers in Shandong Province, the 12 aged-care managers undertook a high level, 10-day training program, with classes conducted at Port Adelaide TAFE, UniSA's Adelaide East Campus and ACH Group's Vita Site and Yankalilla facility. The program also included tours of South Australian aged-care facilities, with a focus on critical topics such as dementia care, infection control, palliative care, Australian Standards and healthy living and lifestyle.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge Marco Baccanti, CEO of Health Industries South Australia, who has been instrumental in helping Jerome Maguire, CEO of Australian Aged Care and Health Export Services, to guide the project from the beginning. This opportunity, the first of its kind in Australia, came about as a direct result of the South Australian government's missions to Shandong in 2015 and 2016. I am told the Qingdao government is funding the cost of the training program, which injected around about $130,000 into the South Australian economy. It is worth noting that the Asia-Pacific region is the fastest growing healthcare market in the world and the Chinese government predicts that it will spend $US1.3 trillion a year on health care by 2020.

China and Australia are widely held to be countries with an ageing population. In many cultures across the world, parents traditionally take care of their children when they are young and when parents grow older it is the children's responsibility to look after them. I heartily agree with the author Tia Walker who said, 'To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honours.'

Both governments in Shandong and South Australia recognise the value of training and development in order to respond to a growing need for aged-care services. I am proud that as sister states we have a shared desire to provide the best quality aged-care services for those in their twilight years. South Australia has more than 70 years of experience in aged and disability care. It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm of the program participants, who were keen to develop and learn new skills in aged care. This training is a great example of how our state is using its significant aged-care expertise to generate economic benefit.

I am pleased that the Australian Aged Care and Health Export Services has been chosen by the Qingdao government to manage its new aged-care facility. The shared project, along with future potential training opportunities, marks the beginning of a bright future for all aged-care trade between China and South Australia.

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