As staff who work in aged care you would be aware the Commonwealth Government has been working through a significant reform agenda for all aged care services for almost a decade. Due to the complexity of the issues involved, the full implementation of the new model of in-home support services has been delayed numerous times since 2015 by the Commonwealth Government, which has created a great deal of uncertainty for both clients and staff.
The Commonwealth Government now intends to implement the major reform for all in-home support programs, which sees the combining of all existing home support programs including the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and Home Care Packages (HCP)) from July 1 2024 into one program, currently referred to as “Support at Home”. Council must now consider what impact the implementation of these reforms will have on Council’s provision of Commonwealth funded aged services and the associated impact on our community.
In response, Council is about to undertake the development of an options paper to assist in consideration of all future opportunities for Council in aged care services post June 2024. To help inform the development of this options paper there will be a significant consultation process undertaken with clients, staff and unions, other key stakeholders and the broader community. The consultation process also aims to promote greater awareness and understanding of what the Commonwealth reforms are and what impact this may have on the provision of aged care services for Greater Dandenong residents post June 2024.
As such, on Tuesday 11 April an Aged Care Reform Update Report will be presented to Council which outlines the background for these reforms and what some of the key considerations are in the development of the options paper.
Read the Council Report - 168KB
Over the next couple of weeks I will be providing further details on the overall project plan with associated timelines, a consultation plan, and a communications plan. There will be numerous opportunities for you to provide your feedback on any issues for you as a staff member and what you see as the needs of our older residents for support services to remain safe and healthy in their own homes for as long as possible.
I appreciate as a staff member who currently provides CHSP services, this is a time of great uncertainty and I am very mindful of this environment.
It is important to please note:
- Council has not to date made any decisions as to their role in Commonwealth Aged Care Services post June 2024.
- I again confirm my advice to you that Council who is contracted to provide the CHSP will accept the CHSP contract extension for the 2023/24 financial year and so will definitely continue as a CHSP provider until June 30 2024.
- The development of an options paper as to Council’s future role will be informed by a significant consultation process with a number of key stakeholders, including seeking feedback from staff, which will be presented for Council’s consideration by the end of August 2023.
- There will be a cross-functional working group established to oversee the development of the options paper, including representatives from Organisational Development, Finance, Media and Communications and staff/union representatives, more details to follow.
- There will also be information sent to all clients regarding the review into Council’s future role in Aged care over the next week or so. If any of your clients ask you any questions about the reforms please refer them to me so we can provide consistent messaging regarding the reforms and what Council is doing in response that will hopefully minimise possible confusion in what is a very complex matter.
Thank you for all that you do for our clients and the residents of Greater Dandenong.
Mandy Gatliff, Manager Community Care
