Home and Community Care

The Home and Community Care (HACC) Program is a central element of the Australian Government's aged care policy, providing community care services to frail aged and younger people with disabilities, and their carers.

In this section:

Consumer Directed Care Respite Care

Rural and Remote Viability Supplement for Community Care Programs

What is the HACC Program?

The Home and Community Care (HACC) Program is a joint Australian, State and Territory Government Initiative.

The HACC Program provides services such as domestic assistance, personal care as well as professional allied health care and nursing services, in order to support older Australians, younger people with a disability and their carers to be more independent at home and in the community and to reduce the potential or inappropriate need for admission to residential care.

Some of the services funded through the HACC Program include:

nursing care;
allied health care;
meals and other food services;
domestic assistance;
personal care;
home modification and maintenance;
transport;
respite care;
counselling, support, information and advocacy;
assessment.

The Program provides a basic level of support to recipients.

Aims

The HACC Program delivers high quality, affordable and accessible services in the community that are essential to the well being of eligible older Australians, younger people with a disability, and their carers.

The Program aims to support these people to be more independent at home and in the community, and reduce the potential or inappropriate need for admission to a residential care facility.

The Program is a key element of the Australian Government’s aged-care policy and its vision for a world-class community care system.

Australian Government responsibilities

The Australian Government provides approximately 60 per cent of funding for the program and maintains a broad strategic policy role.

The state and territory governments provide the remaining percentage of funding, and are the primary point of contact for HACC service providers and consumers.

The state and territory governments are also responsible for program management, including the approval and funding of individual HACC services in their jurisdictions.

In 2010 – 2011, more than $2 billion will be provided for the HACC Program nationally, an increase of over 7 per cent compared to funding in 2009 – 2010.

Of this, the Australian Government will provide more than $1.2 billion, and the states and territories will contribute more than $800 million.

If you are a veteran or a war widow:

Veterans' Home Care is a program managed by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to help veterans and war widows/widowers enjoy a healthier lifestyle and remain living at home longer.

The services through Veterans' Home Care are similar to HACC services, and include help in the home, personal care, home maintenance and respite care.

More information about services available for veterans, war widows and war widowers, is available from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (1800 555 254)

2011 NSW HACC and Community Care Conference
Electronic advice on 2011 NSW HACC and Community Care Conference.

State and Territory contacts

New South Wales

Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care
Level 5, 83 Clarence Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: (02) 8270 2000
TTY: (02) 8270 2167 (for people who are deaf)
Email: info@dadhc.nsw.gov.au

Victoria

Department of Health
50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000

Phone: 1300 650 172 [local call fee within Victoria, except mobile phones]
Interstate, international and mobile callers please call: (61 3) 9096 0000

Queensland

Disability and Community Care Services
Level 6B, Neville Bonner Building
75 William Street
Brisbane QLD 4000

Postal address:
Disability Services
GPO Box 806
Brisbane QLD 4001

Phone: 1800 177 120 (cost of a local call)
TTY: (07) 3896 3471
Email: disabilityinfo@disability.qld.gov.au

South Australia

Office for the Ageing
Level 4SW
Riverside Centre, North Tce
Adelaide SA 5000

Postal address:
PO Box 70
Rundle Mall
Adelaide SA 5000

Phone: (08) 8207 0522
Fax: (08) 8207 0555
Email: ofta@dfc.sa.gov.au

Western Australia

Department of Health
189 Royal Street
East Perth WA 6004

Postal address:
PO Box 8172
Perth Business Centre
Perth WA 6849

Phone: (08) 9222 4222

Tasmania

Department of Health and Human Services
34 Davey Street
HOBART TAS 7000

Phone: 1300 769 699
Facsimile: 1300 721 611
Email: mail@tascarepoint.net

Postal address:
Home and Community Care Unit
GPO Box 125
HOBART TAS 7001

Northern Territory

Department of Health and Families
87 Mitchell Street
Darwin, NT 0800

Postal address:
PO Box 40596
Casuarina NT 0811

Phone: (08) 8920 3700

Australian Capital Territory

ACT Health
11 Moore Street
Canberra City ACT 2601

Postal address:
GPO Box 825
Canberra City ACT 2601

Phone: (02) 6205 1526

Feedback

We welcome your comments about this HACC Program website. If you would like to provide feedback, please email acc@health.gov.au with your comments.
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