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THE HON JUSTINE ELLIOT MP

Former Minister for Ageing

Queensland offered largest single allocation in 2008-2009 aged care approvals round

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Queensland to receive its largest single offer of nursing home and hostel beds and community places.

PDF printable version of Queensland offered largest single allocation in 2008-2009 aged care approvals round (PDF 42 KB)

5 November 2008

This weekend, Queensland will receive its largest single offer of nursing home and hostel beds and community places, the Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot said.

Queensland will receive 3,036 out of the 10,447 places on offer in Australia in the Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).

This weekend (Saturday November 8), the Australian Government would call for applications for the 2008-2009 ACAR.

Over the next three years, the Rudd Labor Government will create more than 37,000 new aged care places.

This builds on the 221,144 aged care beds and community care places already operational. (Of the 221,144 places, 174,669 are residential beds and 46,475 are community care places.)

In the 2008-2009 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) beginning this weekend, there will be 3,026 places in Queensland, 2,994 in NSW, 2,096 in Victoria, 1,544 places in Western Australia, 288 in South Australia, 214 in ACT, 206 in Tasmania and 79 in the Northern Territory. In total, there will be 10,447 places - nationally.

“This is a big win for Queensland and reflects that it has a significant ageing population,” Mrs Elliot said.

“In fact, almost a third of all the nursing home and hostel beds this year will be available to Queensland aged care providers. We are responding to the needs of older Queenslanders.”


Aged care places offered in Queensland in Aged Care Approvals Rounds

Year
Residential beds
Community places
2008-2009
2,416
610
2007
1,582
703
2006
1,000
789
2005
1,410
1,188
2004
1,600
565
2003
953
229
2002
805
131
2001
1,020
257



Overall, Australians now have the world’s second longest life expectancy. Currently, there are some 2.8 million Australians – about 13 per cent of the population – aged 65 and over. This number is expected to triple in 40 years.

Over the next four years, the Australian Government will invest $41.6 billion into aged and community care. No Australian Government has invested more. The Australian Government provides on average $41,500 a year a resident in subsidies.

The official invitation to apply for places, capital grants and ‘Extra Service’ status in the 2008-09 round will occur this weekend (Saturday 8 November).

The ACAR is an annual competitive assessment process that allocates new Australian Government-funded aged care places to providers who best demonstrate that they can meet the growing needs of the ageing population within their local region.

Mrs Elliot also announced the “indicative” figures for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 ACAR – allowing nursing home and community care providers to make long-term plans.

2008-09; 2009-10 and 2010-11 Aged Care places

Program
Created 2008-09
Indicative 2009-10
Indicative 2010-11
3-year total
ACAR
10,447
10,573
11,897
32,917
Zero Real Interest Loans
1,455
1,250
--
2,705
SUB TOTAL
11,902
11,823
11,897
35,622
Out-of round places, including for the Multipurpose Service Program
550
500
450
1,500
TOTAL
12,452
12,323
12,347
37,122


2008-2009 ACAR State-by-State breakdown

State or Territory
Residential
Community (CACP – Community Aged Care Package)
EACH
(Extended Aged Care at Home)
EACH Dementia
Total
NSW
2,106
578
205
105

2,994
Victoria
1,486
392
146
72
2,096
Queensland
2,416
450
105
55
3,026
Western Australia
1,208
166
120
50
1,544
SA
123
101
44
20
288
Tasmania
131
52
15
8
206
ACT
169
30
10
5
214
NT
24
40
7
8
79
TOTAL
7,663
1,809
652
323
10,447


Information sessions will be conducted from Monday 10 November to Tuesday 18 November.

Queensland 2008-2009 ACAR information sessions are scheduled in a range of places including Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Caloundra and Gold Coast.

The sessions will include important details on the 2008-09 application forms and the basis on which applications will be assessed. For those unable to attend, the Department of Health and Ageing will be putting all of the information material online immediately after the official invitation to apply is posted.

Decisions on aged care places are made independently by the Department of Health and Ageing. The aim of the process is to ensure that the allocation of aged care places best meets the identified needs of the community.

2008-2009 Aged Care Approvals Round timetable
  • Official invitation to apply advertised in selected newspapers on November 8, 2008
  • Information sessions held in capital cities and regional centres from November 10-18, 2008
  • Applications from aged care providers close on December 19, 2008
  • Assessments of the applications – January to May 2009
  • Announcement of the ACAR – June 2009

For further information, including the locations and times of the sessions contact the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 or the state/territory office listed on www.health.gov.au/acar2008

For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on (02) 6277 7280

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