The ACT Government is making changes to improve the way it provides support services to keep vulnerable people out of hospital and safely in their homes.
From 1 October 2023 the existing Community Assistance Support Program (CASP) and the Flexible Family Support (FFS) and Transitional Care programs will be replaced by a new program.
The new program will provide people in the ACT with temporary supports to discharge safely from hospital or remain in their homes while they recover from an illness, injury or other health issue.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the program was designed to ensure vulnerable Canberrans don't fall through the gaps of existing services and programs or remain in hospital for longer than necessary.
"The new program will include a dedicated central intake provider, making it simpler for people and carers to access temporary assistance and supports not accessible through other ACT and Commonwealth Government programs.
"Short-term services include non-clinical mental health supports, personal care including assistance with bathing or dressing and help with other domestic tasks like cooking and laundry. Importantly, the program will provide help in connecting people to existing community supports and accessing longer-term services such as the NDIS and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.
"Enabling people to access care and supports in their own home means people can remain connected to family, carers friends and the wider community," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
The ACT Government will invest more than $8 million that is currently spent annually on the ceasing programs into the new program to deliver more effective, efficient services for vulnerable Canberrans.
Over the past 12 months, the Government has worked closely with community partners, advocates, clinicians and other stakeholders to identify how it could achieve better outcomes with this investment and identify areas for improvement.
"This new program is informed by our extensive consultation, with expanded eligibility to include support for people aged 65 and over so people of all ages can be supported through the new program.
"Providers under the new program will have longer outcomes-focused contracts, providing community support providers with more stability and empowering a more flexible and innovative service response," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
These changes have been made as part of the ACT Government Commissioning for Outcomes process.
The ACT Government is changing the way it partners with the non-government organisation sector to ensure Canberrans can access the right support in the right place at the right time.
The new approach, referred to as commissioning, involves working collaboratively with sector partners, and people with lived experience, to plan, design and deliver the best health and support services for Canberrans.
"Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this process to-date, including through the co-design of the new program. Community service providers and local organisations play a key role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our community. I am looking forward to this continued partnership as we all work together to deliver even better outcomes for Canberrans," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
ACT Health will soon go to tender for the centralised intake system and new contracts to provide community support services. Existing subsector contracts will be extended for three months from 30 June 2023 to 30 September 2023 to facilitate this reform.
