1999-2000
Government demonstrates commitment to aged care during the International Year of Older Persons and beyond
This year's Federal Budget demonstrates and reinforces the Government's commitment to older Australians from every walk of life and every part of the country during this International Year of Older Persons and beyond.
Bronwyn Bishop
Minister for Aged Care
11 May 1999 Government demonstrates commitment to aged care during the International Year of Older Persons and beyond
This year's Federal Budget demonstrates and reinforces the Government's commitment to older Australians from every walk of life and every part of the country during this International Year of Older Persons and beyond.
The Commonwealth's financial commitment to the international year has been doubled, with the addition of $5 million in this Budget for a national media program to combat negative stereotypes of older Australians and begin cultural change.
Minister for Aged Care Bronwyn Bishop said, "Older Australians are a vital, interesting and diverse part of our community. Their wisdom and contribution to the community are the foundation and strength of our society. "I want the International Year of Older Persons to mark the beginning of cultural change which sees older Australians recognised for their continuing contribution to our community; not only for what they have done in the past.
"This year, all Australians should take the time to acknowledge the positive impact older people have on their lives."
"In the 1999-2000 Budget, there is a particular focus on aged care services, especially in rural and remote communities. This focus is demonstrated through initiatives that boost the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of our growing population of older Australians, and those who care for them," Mrs Bishop said.
"More than $209 million over four years will ensure that eligible Australians with a hearing impairment are able to participate fully in family and community life.
"Twenty-five per cent of Australians over 65 years of age have some form of hearing impairment. This additional funding will ensure the demand for hearing services by eligible Australians is met and will enable access to hearing services vouchers by around 67,000 extra people each year for the next four years," Mrs Bishop said.
"We will establish Carelink, a network of single regional contact points across Australia for community care services, to support carers in their vital role in our communities and reinforce the Government's commitment to its Staying at Home policy.
"Many older people and their carers have been calling for information on services available to them in their local areas. Carelink will provide this service with just one phone call," Mrs Bishop said.
"More than $40 million, provided over four years, will be dedicated to establishing these contact points so people can quickly and easily find out information about community care services close to them and about their eligibility for these care services.
"Carelink will provide a vital link between the health and community care sectors, and enable health professionals, general practitioners, other service providers, family carers, and individuals to gain easy access to the whole range of agencies providing support services in a region.
"In another initiative for carers, an additional $82.2 million will be provided over the next four years for the delivery of more, and better quality, respite care support and services, particularly in rural and remote areas.
"This initiative delivers on the Federal Government's election commitment to further boost respite care services for carers of people with dementia and other cognitive and behavioural disorders," Mrs Bishop said.
"Carers play a crucial role in the lives of many older Australians. It is important that we recognise their contribution and look after their respite needs. This initiative represents a real and lasting contribution to the International Year for Older Persons by providing greater respite support and services for older Australians and those who care for them."
"The Government will also provide around $5.3 million over four years to ensure the aged care service needs of communities in rural and regional Australia continue to be met.
"There are particular challenges in providing quality aged care services in regional Australia. The Federal Government is committed to reviewing the aged care planning process to provide communities in rural and regional Australia with greater flexibility and responsiveness in the way they plan and deliver services within the broad structures now in place.
"This and other initiatives will ensure that aged care services can be structured in ways that best meet needs of local communities," she said.
Capital assistance for the aged care industry is expanded.
"An additional $25.6 million will be made available over four years for facilities, particularly those in rural and remote areas, to improve their infrastructure and quality of care. This brings to more than $60 million the amount of capital assistance provided by the Government before the accreditation of facilities comes into effect in January 2001.
"Funding to assist residential care facilities to restructure has also been expanded with the allocation of an additional $8.2 million. This is over and above the $20 million already allocated by the Government for this purpose," Mrs Bishop said.
Enhanced primary health care for Australians is a feature of this Budget, with a range of initiatives to help older Australians.
For the first time, the Government will introduce a Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) item for annual voluntary health assessments for all people aged 75 years and over. In addition, from November this year, the MBS will provide payments to medical practitioners who are involved in case conferencing and care planning for people with chronic illness or complex needs. Funding for these initiatives is $110.5 million over four years.
"The benefits of case conferencing are well established in Australia, particularly in aged care," Mrs Bishop said.
To encourage greater uptake of care planning for older Australians, an incentive payment will be provided to general practitioners through the Practice Incentives Program. This will be supported with $8.1 million to help GPs in multi-disciplinary care planning.
Coordinated Care Trials are proving to be especially effective in addressing the needs of people who are chronically ill or disadvantaged. This Budget will provide an extra $33.2 million for additional trials and continuing existing trials.
This allocation will also fund a small number of trials that explore more flexible forms of health insurance to support community-based coordinated care for people with private health insurance.
"The Budget will contribute $6.6 million over four years to help reduce injuries caused by falls. Apart from the personal distress and injury for older people, falls may lead to longer-term disabilities. Part of the allocation will be for training of health workers, and further research into preventing falls," Mrs Bishop said.
A further $42.8 million over the next four years will be provided for health-related services and infrastructure costs associated with the 30 new Regional Health Service Centres in rural communities across Australia promised by the Government during the last election.
"Regional Health Service Centres will offer a range of health, aged care and community services based on community need, with a particular emphasis on primary health care. Services may include illness and injury prevention, acute and palliative care, community nursing, and mental health.
"This builds on the successful Multipurpose Service Program under which the Commonwealth and States jointly fund multipurpose services under flexible funding arrangements. The Commonwealth will work closely with State and Territory governments and local communities to ensure effective and coordinated services that meet the needs of local communities," Mrs Bishop said.
Summary of budget initiatives relating to older Australians
A wide range of 1999-2000 Budget measures demonstrate this Government's commitment to the health and wellbeing of older Australians - no matter where they live. These include:
- $5 million for a national media campaign to begin cultural change.
- Around $209 million for better hearing services to boost quality of life.
- Around $41.2 million to establish Carelink, a network of regional contact points to make it easier for people to access community care services.
- $82.2 million to further boost support for carers with respite care services.
- Meeting aged care challenges in rural Australia, including around a $5.3 million review of the aged care planning process and $42.8 million for more Regional Health Service Centres in rural communities.
- Improving the infrastructure and quality of care, including $25.6 million in capital grants for aged care facilities, particularly those in rural and remote areas.
- Around $110.5 million for new Medicare Benefits Schedule items that benefit older Australians, including annual health assessments for 75s and over and case conferencing and care planning.
- A Practice Incentives Program for general practitioners to encourage planning quality care for over 65s and $8.1 million to help GPs participate in multi-disciplinary care planning.
- $33.2 million for further coordinated care trials designed to lead to better health care for older Australians with chronic illnesses or complex health needs.
- $6.6 million to help prevent falls by older people.
- $10.1 million for Information Technology initiatives to keep health providers in touch with each other.
- $14.4 million for programs to help chronic sufferers to help themselves.
- $3.1 million for streamlining medical billing.
John Wilson, (02) 6277 7280, 0412 437 317.
