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Invitation to influence the direction of Aged Care reform - Tasmania

Aged and community care providers are invited to take part in a workshop about the transition of Home and Community Care aged care services and introduction of a 'new front end' for the aged care sector. In late 2010 the Department of Health and Ageing held the first phase of consultations on aged care reforms in capital cities.

The second phase has begun focusing on rural and regional centres. HACC service providers, local governments, peak bodies and the workforce are invited to provide their thoughts and ideas on how the reforms could affect the way services are delivered now and into the future.

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Invitation to influence the direction of aged care reform

You are invited to have your say in the development of a new ‘front end’ for aged care and future directions for the aged care component of the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program. This initiative will assist older Australians, carers and their families to more easily access information, assessment and links to aged care services.

This initiative is part of national health reform. National health reform clarifies governments’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the jointly-funded HACC program. Commonwealth funded and managed community and residential aged care, and specialist disability services funded through the National Disability Agreement. All states and territories have agreed that the Commonwealth will be the level of government with full funding, policy, management and delivery responsibility for a national aged care system. Victoria and Western Australia, in consultation with relevant local government stakeholders, agreed to work with the Commonwealth to consider potential changes in responsibilities for the HACC services.

In November and December 2010, service providers, local governments, peak bodies and the workforce shared their thoughts and ideas about the proposed changes to the aged care system. Initially, these consultations took place in capital cities and are now continuing in regional Australia.

In early 2011, a range of focus groups will also be held. These will provide the opportunity for participants to share their views, assist in system change, highlight the strengths of the current system and raise issues to consider. Participants wishing to understand the context for the development of a new ‘front end’ for aged care may wish to read the discussion paper: Improving Information, Intake and Assessment for the Aged Care System at yourHealth. The discussion paper is also intended to start conversations and generate views throughout the consultation process.

The reforms will support the delivery of Australia’s aged care system now and into the future.

Launceston: Thursday 24th March 2011 at 9.30am -12.30pm

If you would like to play your part in contributing to aged care reforms, please RSVP to: Aged Care Consultations with your name, organisation (if applicable) and the date of the consultation that you would like to attend. For more information about the upcoming consultation process, please call Leisa Mitchell (02) 6289 5158 or Jen Scheele on (02) 6289 3977.

If you are unable to participate in the consultations, but would still like to provide input into the reform process, please email us at Aged Care Consultations to register your interest in attending a focus group.

We look forward to your participation.


Kind regards

Tracy Mackey
Assistant Secretary
Ageing and Aged Care Division
Department of Health and Ageing

Rachel Balmanno
Assistant Secretary
HACC Reform Branch
Department of Health and Ageing

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