Home > For Health Professionals > Aged care > Publications

Publications

Invitation to influence the direction of Aged Care reform - Qld

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 in 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.

PDF printable version of Invitation to influence the direction of Aged Care reform - QLD (PDF 36 KB)
PDF printable version of Invitation to hear about and discuss Aged Care Reforms - QLD (PDF 28 KB)

Please see invites attached below.

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.

Cairns: Friday 25th 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

Top of page

Invitation to hear about and discuss Aged Care Reforms

The transition of Home and Community Care aged care services

You are invited to take part in a workshop about the transition of Home and Community Care (HACC) aged care services to the Commonwealth.

Under the Heads of Agreement – National Health Reform signed on 13 February 2011, the Commonwealth and all states and territories agreed that the Commonwealth will be the level of government with full funding, policy, management and delivery responsibility for a national aged care system.

The Commonwealth is working with states and territories to develop new funding arrangements for HACC aged care to come into effect from 1 July 2011, with a smooth transfer to the Commonwealth of operational responsibility for HACC aged care service providers from 1 July 2012. Victoria and Western Australia, in consultation with relevant local government stakeholders, agreed to work with the Commonwealth to consider potential changes in responsibilities for HACC services.

The Commonwealth is committed to working with key stakeholders in the aged care sector to ensure the future HACC program builds on the strengths of the existing infrastructure, the experience of the workforce and the needs of local communities.

The collective experience of service providers, peak organisations, older Australians and their families are vitally important. The Commonwealth is keen to hear your experience to ensure the transition of HACC aged care services is as smooth as possible, particularly in limiting any impact on clients, carers and the sector.

In late 2010, the Department of Health and Ageing held the first phase of consultations on the aged care reforms in capital cities. The second phase of consultations will begin in early March 2011 in regional and rural centres. HACC service providers, local governments, peak bodies and the
workforce will be asked to provide their thoughts and ideas on how the transition of HACC aged care services could affect the way services are delivered now and into the future.

The consultations have been designed to consider stakeholders interests and needs of specific regions. The Queensland consultation schedule is below.

State/Territory	Date	Location	Time
QLD	22 March 2011	Longreach	9:30 – 12:30
QLD	31 March 2011	Hervey Bay	9:30 – 12:30

If you would like to play your part in contributing to the aged care reforms, please RSVP to: HACC Reform with your name, organisation and type of services provided and the town and date of the consultation you would like to attend.

For further information about the upcoming consultation process, please call Leisa Mitchell on (02) 6289 5158 or Jen Scheele on (02) 6289 3977.

We look forward to your participation.


Kind regards

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

Top of page