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ISSUE NO. 47
REFORMS & TRANSITION NEWS
Support at Home Program Start Date to be Delayed by 12 Months
The new Support at Home Program start date has been delayed until 24 July 2024, following a recent announcement from Hon. Anika Wells MP, Minister for Aged Care. This new deadline will now align with the deadline originally recommended by the Royal Commission in their final report. Peak bodies, service providers, advocates, and other stakeholders welcome this delay, as it will allow extra time for consultation and addressing concerns. ACCPA is working with the Support at Home Alliance, which includes peak bodies, local government representatives and members of various groups and communities to eventually co-design and pilot an in-home care system that is better suited to older Australians.
More information available from the Department of Health and Aged Care website
Department of Health and Aged Care – Past Webinars on Aged Care Reforms
There are various past webinars available on the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website, which serve to support aged care service providers in the transition from older aged care funding programs to the new Support at Home Program. Topics include a broad aged care reforms overview, information on the 2022-2023 activities specifically for sector support and development providers, and an update on the Support at Home Program as well as discussing the status of Support at Home regulation development.
Watch the Aged care funding reforms webinar here
Watch the Sector Support and Development (SSD) Providers – 2022-23 Activities webinar here
Watch the Support at Home Program and Regulation update webinar here
Commonwealth Home Support Programme Manual Changes and SCHADS Award Changes
The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Manual and website has been updated for the extension and program changes for 2022-23. CHSP providers can apply to use any unspent funds and access emergency funding to ensure continuity of service. This is in response to the recognised impact the SCHADS award changes have had on CHSP providers. A fact sheet summarising the SCHADS award changes as well as how to access emergency funding is now available.
ACCPA’s Let’s Talk About the Support at Home Transition Symposium
This national symposium was hosted by the Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA), the new peak body representing aged care providers, and the Department of Health and Aged Care. There were several panel discussions on guiding viewers through the transition from the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) to the Support at Home Program, as well as discussing the work of the Support at Home Alliance. There were also stories from providers sharing their transition journeys so far.
Department of Health and Aged Care: CHSP Sector Support and Development Engagement Outcomes
From 1 July 2022, Sector Support and Development (SSD) activities will focus on supporting providers with the transition from the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) to the Support at Home program. Due to this, SSD providers will allocate a minimum of 75% of their funding to activities supporting transition and reform for CHSP providers. A webinar was hosted by the Aged Care Engagement Hub on 24 March 2022 to consult with the sector on this change in SSD focus for 2022-23. The Department shared information at the webinar to help SSD providers develop activity work plans and allowed for questions and feedback.
CHSP Grants Available
GO5679 offers transitional support funding for any CHSP providers who are classified as being most at risk of experiencing financial difficulty as a result of the payment in arrears payment model. The deadline for this grant is 30 October 2022, 2.00pm.
GO5672 offers ad hoc funding for CHSP providers to respond to unforeseen circumstances including COVID-19, and to improve service delivery for the next financial year. The deadline for this grant is 30 April 2023, 2.00pm.
