“Let’s talk”: ACIC

The industry council is calling on government to convene a round table discussion on an aged care funding overhaul.

Four months out from the federal budget, the Aged Care Industry Council has again stepped up its campaign for a funding overhaul.

The council has warned that the current system is “not working”, adding that without significant changes, older people will be left with “nowhere to turn”.

In its budget submission, the council has urged the government to replace the “inadequate” Commonwealth Own Purpose Outlays (COPO) index for aged care funding.

“The current system of funding for aged care facilities fails to address a broad range of issues from wages for carers to maintaining and developing appropriate facilities,” said the acting CEO of Aged and Community Services Australia and council spokesperson, Pat Sparrow.

In the meantime, the council stressed that the Conditional Adjustment Payment (CAP) introduced in 2004 must be continued.

The government is currently refusing to comment on the CAP as it conducts a review on the payment’s future.

The industry council has also called on the Commonwealth Government to convene a round table discussion to kick-start discussions about a sustainable system for raising capital.

“It’s a new call in recognition that anything we do in the immediate term will only produce a short-term patch up,” said Ms Sparrow.

“We need to work through some fundamental changes to put the industry on a surer footing for the future.”

“It is a complex funding system and it would be a sensible first step to gather together a range of experts from aged care and consumer groups along with financial experts and government representatives.”

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