What is specialised status funding?
The Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model includes specialised status funding categories to reflect additional costs of specialised programs.
As a registered provider, you may be eligible for specialised status if your residential care home specialises in providing care to:
- people with complex behaviours related to their background of homelessness (any location in Australia)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (in homes in a remote or very remote location).
If the System Governor determines the home is eligible, you will receive specialised BCT funding for the home. The BCT is the fixed funding component of the daily basic subsidy.
Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN ACC) – Specialised status guide for residential aged care registered providers
Eligibility for specialised status
Specific eligibility criteria apply for each specialised status category.
Specialised homeless status
To be determined to have specialised homeless status, the System Governor (or delegate) must be satisfied that the residential care home:
- has provided, or one of their key personnel has demonstrated experience in providing, or has the capacity to provide, specialist homeless programs
- is either providing specialist homeless programs, or has given a written undertaking to begin providing such programs within 3 months of submitting the application
- on the day before submitting the application, has at least 50% of permanent care residents who demonstrate complex behavioural needs and social disadvantage associated with their background as a homeless person.
Specialised Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status
To be determined to have specialised Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status, we (as the System Governor) must be satisfied that your residential care home:
- is located in a remote (MM 6) or very remote (MM 7) location, according to the Modified Monash Model (MM location)
- has provided, or one of their key personnel has demonstrated experience in providing, or has the capacity to provide, specialist Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander programs
- is providing Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander specialist programs, or has given a written undertaking to begin providing such programs within 3 months of submitting the application
- on the day before submitting the application, has at least 50% of its permanent care residents who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.
Apply for specialised status
To apply for specialised status for your residential care home, you must complete either the:
- Specialised Homeless status application form
- Specialised Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status application form.
Email the completed application form and any additional supporting information to Subsidies and Supplements.
Determining specialised status
In making our decision, we (as the System Governor) may have regard to any information that we consider relevant. This includes information that becomes available after you have submitted the application.
You will be advised in writing of the outcome of your application.
If the home is determined to have specialised status, the specialised BCT rate will apply from the start of the next payment period.
Duration of specialised status
If determined as eligible, a specialised status will apply for a period of up to 3 years, provided you continue to meet all the relevant eligibility requirements.
We will send advance notice via email to remind you that your status is expiring and when you need to submit a new application to continue to be eligible for specialised status and the associated BCT funding.
Revocation of specialised status
As a registered provider, you have a responsibility to monitor your residential care home’s ongoing eligibility for specialised status. If your home is found to be no longer eligible, we (as the System Governor) may revoke the home's specialised status.
You can choose to email us (as the System Governor) to request that the specialised status of your residential care home be revoked.
Current rate
The specialised BCT rate is subject to change on 1 October each year, following pricing advice from the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority.
See the daily rates in the Schedule of Subsidies and Supplements.
Find out more
For detailed information, refer to:
- AN-ACC – Specialised status guide for residential aged care registered providers
- AN-ACC Funding Guide
- AN-ACC resources.
Contact
