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Commonwealth HACC Program

Fact sheet - Length of funding agreement for Service Groups Two and Four

This fact sheet provides Commonwealth HACC service providers with information on the different funding arrangements for Service Groups Two and Four.

PDF printable version of Length of funding agreement (PDF 116 KB)

Service providers who deliver activities under Service Groups Two and Four have been offered Commonwealth HACC funding for two years rather than the standard three years of funding offered to service providers delivering activities under all other Service Groups.

Which service types are affected?

Service types included under Service Group Two are:

• Assessment
• Client care coordination
• Case management
• Counseling/support, information and advocacy (client)
• Counseling/support, information and advocacy (carer)

Service Group Four comprises of centre-based day care.

Why is the Australian Government offering two year funding agreements?

Commonwealth HACC service types under Service Groups Two and Four have similarities with services delivered through other community care programs that are also funded and managed by the Australian Government.

Funding agreements for these service types are being offered for two years to allow the Australian Government to take steps to align these services with:

• the Aged Care Gateway being developed to make aged care services easier to access and navigate, and
• the reforms to respite services under the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of these services and will continue to fund these service types into the future. By offering two year funding agreements to service providers delivering these service types, the Government is able to progress its plans to work with service providers to integrate similar services across different programs. Service providers will play an important role in helping the Government to shape the future of these services.

Living Longer. Living Better. aged care reform

On 20 April 2012 the Australian Government announced the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package. The reforms include the introduction of a Commonwealth Home Support Program from 1 July 2015. Helping carers to access respite and other support is an important focus of the reform package, with $54.8 million over five years being committed to this goal. The reforms to respite services are a significant step towards the establishment of the Commonwealth Home Support Program. All respite programs and services will be consolidated from 1 July 2014 and a regional network of carer support centres will commence operating from this date. These changes will help to facilitate a smooth transition to the Commonwealth Home Support Program from 1 July 2015.

The new Home Support program will bring under the one program all of the services currently providing basic home support, including the Commonwealth HACC Program, the National Respite for Carers Program, the Day Therapy Centres program and the Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged Program. Currently these programs offer different services to consumers and carers, through different pathways, but with the same objective of helping older people to remain in the community. Consolidating these programs will provide a comprehensive basic home support program.

More information

For more information on the funding arrangements for service providers delivering Commonwealth HACC services under Service Groups Two and Four contact the HACC service provider help desk on phone 1800 057 616, or email HACC Reform

Or for more information on the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package visit the Aged Care Australia website at agedcareaustralia.gov.au.


Last updated: June 2012
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