Council has voted to continue providing in-home community care services at last night's meeting.
The decision follows new Commonwealth Government legislation, which will fundamentally change the way that services are delivered over a two-year period.
As part of the reforms, a program called Support at Home will replace Home Care Packages (HCP), the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
The first stage of reform will see Support at Home take over from HCPs from 1 July 2025.
The reforms introduce a new Statement of Rights to ensure older people are treated with dignity and respect, changes to who can access aged care services and how they are funded, and stronger Aged Care Quality Standards, along with greater oversight from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Following the decision by Council, the City is preparing the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the new reforms, which will require a major shift to the way the service is managed and delivered in alignment with the new model established by the Commonwealth Government, including IT upgrades, the increased integration of health services into in-home aged care, strengthened quality standards and the implementation of the provisions in the new Aged Care Act.
These measures require significant additional expenditure, and the City will continue to advocate to the Federal Government in good faith for additional recurrent transition funding to support the changes.
The impacts on each client's service are being worked through individually, and all clients will be contacted in due course to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.
Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj:
This Council was voted in to listen to and advocate on behalf of the community we serve, and that's what we've done.It's important to note that there will be some changes to how the service operates - these will be determined by the requirements of the Commonwealth Government, but our aspiration is for it to be consistent with the service they've come to know and love.
It's been heartwarming to hear so many stories from people who have told us about how this service makes a difference in their lives every single day.
Council will continue to work and negotiate with the Commonwealth Government in good faith, and I thank the Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Member for Corangamite Libby Coker for their interest and support.
City of Greater Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie:
We will be taking this one step at a time, speaking to clients individually, and working with employees to explain exactly what's changing for their service under these reforms.Our teams are standing by to help anyone who is still unsure about what this means for them.
In addition to sending clients an update by post, the latest information will be communicated online at geelongaustralia.com.au/care
