Community Aged Care Package Program

Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs) provide a lower level of community care to assist frail older Australians to remain living in their own homes.

What are Community Aged Care Packages?

Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs) are individually planned and coordinated packages of care tailored to help older Australians remain living in their own homes. They are funded by the Australian Government to provide for the complex care needs of older people.

What help is available?

CACPs are very flexible and are designed to help with individual care needs. The types of services that may be provided as part of a package include:

personal care;
social support;
transport to appointments;
home help;
meal preparation; and
gardening.

Who will provide the care?

The Australian Government provides CACP approved providers with a daily subsidy per package to supply and coordinate care services for frail older people. The individual services within a CACP may be provided by a variety of organisations in your local area, but will be coordinated and planned by the approved aged care service provider.

How can I access a CACP?

To receive a CACP, you must be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) as requiring at least low level care. Information on ACATs is available from doctors, hospitals, community centres, at the Aged Care Assessment Team information page or by phoning the Aged and Community Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 or Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres on 1800 052 222. ACAT assessments are free of charge.

If your ACAT assessment approves you as eligible for low level care and you have expressed a preference to be cared for in your home, the ACAT will refer you to a local service provider who may offer you a CACP if there is one available.

How is a CACP arranged?

When a service provider accepts you, a package of services will be tailored to meet your needs as assessed by the ACAT. The service provider will discuss the options available for meeting your care needs and a Care Recipient Agreement will be created. You, your family or representatives including your carer have the right to negotiate with the provider on the types and levels of care to be provided. After you have agreed on your care, the service provider will give you a copy of your Care Recipient Agreement and Care Plan setting out the services you will receive.

What is the subsidy rate for CACPs and how much will I have to pay?

For complete information on the subsidy and care recipient contribution rates for CACPs and how these are calculated, please refer to the Care Recipient Contribution and Subsidies for Community Care Packages information page.

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What quality of service can I expect?

The Australian Government has specified Community Care Standards, which approved providers are legally required to meet to ensure care recipients receive care of the highest quality. Recipients of a CACP (or their representatives) are entitled to:

quality services that meet their assessed needs;
where possible, their preferred level of social independence;
having their dignity and privacy respected at all times;
access information about the care options available and the facts they need to make informed choices;
access to details of the care being provided; and
take part in developing a package of services that best meets their needs.

What are my rights and responsibilities?

On 1 October 2009 the Australian Government introduced the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for Community Care (the Charter).

The Charter is a legal document that explains the rights of people receiving aged care services in the community, as well as their responsibilities, including their responsibilities towards care workers.

Copies of the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for Community Care are available electronically on the Department of Health and Ageing website.

What if I have a complaint?

If you, your family or your representatives are not happy with the service provided as a part of your CACP, you have the right to complain. The Australian Government has put arrangements in place for people to do this. If after talking to your service provider the problem has not been resolved, the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme is available. This is a free service which is overseen by the Aged Care Commissioner. The Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme can be contacted on 1800 550 552.

Recipients of a CACP, their family and their representatives are also able to access advocacy services. Advocacy services help people find out what they are entitled to. More information on advocacy services can be found on the Aged Care Advocacy information page or by phoning the Aged and Community Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
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