Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing

Our People

Council comprises up to 16 members:

• 14 individually appointed members;
• 1 standing position for a representative from the ACT Aged Care Advisory Council; and
• 1 standing position for a representative from the Council on the Ageing.

A chair and a deputy chair are appointed from the membership.

The Council forms working parties and /or co-opts individuals with particular expertise for particular tasks.

Information sharing among Ministerial Advisory Councils will be achieved by sharing of meeting records and occasional joint projects.

Our Chair

Rev Dr Elizabeth MacKinlay AM (Chair)
The Rev Dr MacKinlay is both a registered nurse and a priest in the Anglican Church and the Director of the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies at St Mark's National Theological Centre, Canberra. She is Associate Professor, School of Theology, Charles Sturt University and a Principal Researcher in the Designated Research Centre for Public and Contextual Theology (PACT), CSU. Recently completed research includes an Australian Research Council project: Finding meaning in the experience of dementia: The place of spiritual reminiscence work.

An active researcher and writer, Dr MacKinlay has presented many papers and spoken at many workshops, including keynote addresses both nationally and internationally. Her latest book is MacKinlay E.B. (2006) Spiritual growth and care in the fourth age of life.

Dr David Jarvis (Deputy Chair)
Dr Jarvis has extensive experience as a medical doctor and is a member of Council of The Ageing-ACT.

Cross representation

Ms Marion Reilly
Ms Reilly, the Chair of the Aged Care Advisory Council, is the standing representative of that Council to MACA.

Ms Vivienne Sinderberry
Ms Sinderberry was appointed as the representative from the Council on the Ageing. Vivienne Sinderberry is retired and has resided in the ACT for 9 years.

Members

Ms Maureen Cane
Ms Cane is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tuggeranong Community Service. Her previous experience includes providing community services, including providing community programs such as fitness classes for older people and holding an officer role in the Superannuated Commonwealth Officers Association.

Ms Melanie Dicks
Ms Dicks is a representative of the Aged and Community Services Association of NSW and ACT. Ms Dicks' strengths lie in her knowledge and work in the aged care industry and in identifying needs and developing proposals to improve aged care programs.

Mr Lennard Dyer
Mr Dyer is a member of the Superannuated Commonwealth Officers Association (SCOA) and the National Seniors Association. Mr Dyer has experience as a carer for relatives in aged care and retirement facilities.

Mr Alan Hodges AM
Mr Hodges had an extensive career in the Australian Army followed by appointment in the Australian Public Service as Director General Emergency Management Australia. In recent years he has been involved in working with a number of seniors groups to strengthen their governance and strategic planning.

Mr Kanti Jinna
Mr Jinna is a former President and a current Patron of the Fiji Australia Association of Canberra as well as the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre of the ACT. Mr Jinna has held numerous executive positions, including in Jaycees International and Rotary. He represents the interests of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Australians in Canberra, specifically ethnic Asians from the Sub-Continent.

Mr Brendan Kelly
Mr Kelly is a Managing Director of Goodwin Aged Care Services. Mr Kelly has extensive experience in health and ageing as a Commonwealth Senior Executive Officer. He is a member of Council on the Ageing and the ACT Health Services Consumer Association.

Mr Bruce McKenzie

Mr McKenzie is an aged care industry representative. He has experience in participating as a member of advisory bodies and other committees. Mr McKenzie is the Chief Executive Officer of Goodwin Homes and is Chair of the Aged and Community Care Association of the ACT and region. Mr McKenzie has been a resident of Canberra for 24 years.

Mrs Anne Murray AM
Mrs Murray is the President of the Woden Senior Citizens Club. Mrs Murray has experience as a Senior Executive in the Department of Education and Community Services, a teacher and as the National President of Kidsafe.

Mr David Ng
Mr Ng is President of Canberra Mandarin Club, President of the ACT Chinese Council of Commerce, Steering Chair Federation of Chinese Association ACT and a member of Migrant Resource Centre Management Committee. Mr Ng represents the interests of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Australians in Canberra, specifically ethnic Asians from South-East Asia.

Mr Vincenzo Salsone
Mr Salsone arrived in Australia in 1952 from Italy, speaks fluent Italian and has a strong network within the Italian community. Mr Salsone represents the interests of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Australians in Canberra, specifically the Aged & Pensioners Regione Calabria. He has occupied positions ranging from a storeman and stores supervisor to operating a fish and chip shop.

Ms Barbara Silverstone
Ms Silverstone has been involved in ageing issues for over 10 years, particularly through the Older Women's Network. Ms Silverstone has experience as a volunteer with Carers ACT. She has also been a carer for her mother.

Ms Gayle Sweaney
Ms Sweaney has hands on experience and understanding of carers' roles; extensive knowledge of gaps in service for carers, an understanding of the issues of ageism and the needs of ageing people. Ms Sweaney's strengths are her involvement with age related organisations, through her management role of Home Flexi Care, Baptist Community Services. She enjoys access to a broad cross section of ageing Canberrans.

Mr Andrew Taylor
Mr Taylor is Chief Executive of the Public Trustee for the ACT, a Territory Authority, and carries the statutory appointment as Public Trustee. Prior to that Andrew was Registrar-General for the ACT. Mr Taylor is Chair of the Public Trustee Investment Board and Trustee of the Capital Region Community Foundation (known as GreaterGood). Mr Taylor is also a current member of the Trustee Corporations of Australia Inc and the Australian Guardianship and Administration Committee.