Capital grants reduced in latest ACAR round

Following mounting concern that the home care package levels are missing their mark, the government announced more Level 3 and Level 4 packages in 2015 ACAR, but has substantially reduced the capital grants on offer.

Aged care providers have just six weeks to prepare their applications for the 2015 Aged Care Approvals Round, the last for home care packages, with the announcement of the round’s opening on Saturday and applications closing on 25 September.

Responding to mounting concern and criticism that the home care package levels are missing their mark, the government announced it was releasing 1,729 more Level 3 and Level 4 packages than the 2014 ACAR—an increase of 45 per cent. As Community Care Review reported in May, home care providers are struggling to fill their Level 1 home care packages while managing waiting lists in the hundreds for their high level packages.

In total some 6,045 home care places will be released nationally in the 2015 ACAR, which will be the last round to contain home care packages as from 2017 packages will go direct to consumers.

In residential aged care, some 10,940 places will be released. However, a large number of allocated places are not operational and the department has placed a six year limit on non-operational licences from this round forward, Australian Ageing Agenda has been told.

The 2015 round contains $67 million in capital grants, a significant reduction from the $103 million available last year.

Fiona Somerville
Fiona Somerville

Fiona Somerville, commercial director of The Ideal Consultancy, which specialises in ACAR applications, said that based on feedback and a reduction in red tape, the ACAR forms had been streamlined from previous years. But she warned that “looks are deceiving and providers will need to demonstrate capability and expertise to be competitive. Evidence is absolutely essential to support an argument for places.”

Ms Somerville said it was crucial for providers to show their boards and management had the expertise and experience to deliver aged care services, that the service was suitably planned and located, and that the applicant had “exemplary conduct” as an approved provider.

“It will also be important for the applicant to demonstrate that the rights of the care recipient is protected, that they increase diversity of choice in the region, can best offer continuity of care, and that the organisation can operationalise the places in a timely manner,” said Ms Somerville.

The results of the 2015 ACAR are expected to be announced in late March 2016.

For more information visit the DSS site

The government has developed resources to assist CALD organisations to apply for government aged care funding, including the ACAR. Click here to access them

Want to have your say on this story? Comment below. Send us your news and tip-offs to editorial@australianageingagenda.com.au 

Subscribe to Australian Ageing Agenda magazine (includes Technology Review

Sign up to AAA newsletters

Tags: acar, fiona-somerville, the-ideal-consultancy,

Leave a Reply