Aged Care Reforms

A women is helping an elderly man in a blue button up shirt get out of a black sedan car.

After careful consideration, Corangamite Shire Council has made the difficult decision to no longer provide in-home aged care services from 1 July 2023. 

The Federal Government has announced that a new program called Support at Home will replace all current Commonwealth-funded services. This program is scheduled to commence from 1 July 2024 and will give clients greater flexibility and dignity to choose and personalise their own care.

In response to these changes at a national level, we carried out an extensive six-month review of our Home Support services in 2022 to understand how to best support residents in this new environment.

The new Support at Home program will operate in a competitive market, providing greater choice and flexibility for clients.

Currently, Corangamite Shire delivers a range of entry-level Home Support services including:

  • Home care / domestic assistance
  • Personal care
  • Property maintenance
  • Respite care
  • Meals on Wheels.

We concluded that participating in any future Support at Home program would require us to extend our suite of services well beyond the entry-level services we currently provide.

We have decided to exit Home Support service delivery and have advised the State and Commonwealth Governments of this decision.

We will work to support all clients transition to new providers once the Commonwealth has decided who the provider/s is.

At this stage, staff and clients do not need to anything and services will continue. Importantly, no client will be left without a service.

What happens between now and 30 June 2023?

We will maintain all current services and it will be business as usual. There will come a time to meet and transition over to the new provider, however more information will be shared in the coming months.

Have other Councils chosen to exit?

Many other councils have made a similar decision, including Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Golden Plains Shire Council, Loddon Shire Council, City of Ballarat, Hepburn Shire Council, Greater Shepparton, Campaspe Shire Council, Moorabool Shire Council and Mildura Rural City Council.

If the Support at Home program doesn’t start until 2024, why can’t Council continue to provide aged care services until then?

Changing and expanding the types of services to be provided takes time and resources. By making a decision now, there will be greater lead time for service providers to either prepare for these changes or to implement transition activities.

Once Government bodies select a new service provider(s), Council will work to faciliate a smooth transition. No clients will be left without services.

Who will be the new provider?

The Federal and State Governments will choose the new provider. As part of our review process, we have become aware of a number of specialist providers who are interested in providing services in the Corangamite area.

Will Council deliver any Positive Ageing & Inclusion programs in the future?

We will provide a navigation service for two years while supporting clients to transition to the new provider and assisting people to access services under the new Support at Home program.

We are committed to ensuring residents are supported and that nobody goes without their services.

Who can I contact?

Please contact Chloe McGowan by emailing chloe.mcgowan@corangamite.vic.gov.au or calling 5593 7100 if you have any queries.

 

 

 

 

Timeline

  • August 2022

    The Commonwealth advised service providers that the new Support at Home Program will be deferred until July 2024.

  • July-November 2022
    Corangamite Shire conducts a review into the sustainability of providing Home Support services under the the new Support at Home program.

  • January 2023
    Corangamite Shire informs the Federal and State Governments it will not continue to provide services from 30 June 2023.

  • Now until 30 June 2023
    Federal Government appoints new service provider/s. Corangamite Shire works with new provider to transition existing clients.

  • 30 June 2023 onwards
    Corangamite Shire no longer provides Home Support Services but will continue to assist clients and the community to access the new Support at Home program when it comes online in July 2024.

  • 1 July 2024
     New Commonwealth Support at Home program starts, replacing all current Commonwealth funded aged care services. New streamlined assessment service commences.

  • July 2024 onwards
    Corangamite Shire will provide a range of Positive Ageing and Inclusion initiatives such as events and programs.

     

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