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Australian Health Review Australian Health Review Society
Journal of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association
EDITORIAL

Driving excellence in aged care and healthy ageing

Leonie M. Short A *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Rural Dentistry and Oral Health, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.

* Correspondence to: leshort@csu.edu.au

Australian Health Review 49, AH25207 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH25207
Submitted: 17 August 2025  Accepted: 19 August 2025  Published: 30 September 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of AHHA.

Abstract

This policy reflection asks why there is so much attention paid to persons receiving aged and home care at the expense of those in the unpaid economy? Why do some calls for a new initiative for older Australians fall on deaf ears. It answers these questions by presenting an example of failed efforts by a range of key lobby groups for a Senior Dental Benefits Scheme and discusses the differences between a preventive social model of health versus a reactive medical model of health for older Australians.

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