Special needs groups – resource lists
Aged Care Act 1997 - Special needs groups
Under the Aged Care Act 1997, people with special needs include people who identify with or belong
to one or more of the following groups:
 people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;
 people from non-English speaking (culturally and linguistically diverse) backgrounds;
 people who live in rural or remote areas;
 people who are financially or socially disadvantaged;
 people who are veterans, including the spouse, widow or widower of a veteran;
 people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless;
 people who are care leavers; and/or
 people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex community.
While not a separate special needs group under the legislation, all home care providers should also
have policies and practices that address the provision of care for people with dementia.
Commonwealth HACC - Special needs groups
Within the Commonwealth HACC target population there are some groups of people who face
greater challenges in receiving adequate, appropriate and accessible services. The Commonwealth
HACC Program Manual list the following as special needs groups:
 people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
 people with dementia
 financially disadvantaged people
 people living in remote or isolated areas.
For the purposes of the recent HACC funding round, the following additional special needs groups
were listed:
 veterans
 people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
 care leavers
 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people
 parents separated from their children by forced adoption or removal
ACAR: Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have established links and working
relationships with one or more of these special needs groups, as well as the capacity to provide
appropriate care and support.
Home Care Package Guidelines
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All home care providers are expected to have policies and practices in place to ensure
services are accessible to people with special needs. Providers should have regard to
consumer diversity, taking into account consumers’ individual interests, customs, beliefs and
backgrounds. Providers should also work collaboratively with advocacy services and
specialist service providers for people from special needs groups, where appropriate.
People on a waiting list do not necessarily access care purely on a “first come, first served”
basis. Home care providers are encouraged to assess each individual’s care needs relative to
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others also waiting for home care. They must also take into account any conditions of
allocation for the package, including priority of access for people from special needs groups.
Sub contracting/ brokering - Home care providers should also endeavour to build
relationships with other organisations that specialise in providing services to people from
special needs groups. Some consumers may request or prefer service providers that work
with, or are from, the same special needs group.
Home Care Standards – references to special needs groups
EO 1.4: COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING AND ENGAGEMENT
The service provider understands and engages with the community in which it operates and
reflects this in service planning and development.
Practices and processes
To deliver appropriate services to meet the needs of service users, service providers need to
understand the community in which they operate and their target population, and use this
information to plan and develop services. Practices and processes that support community
understanding and engagement include:
 Meeting the needs of people most in need of services, who are most disadvantaged and who
have limited access to services due to cultural and linguistic barriers or special needs such as
sensory loss or dementia
 Engaging service users, including special-needs groups and the community, in service
development and management
EO 1.8: PHYSICAL RESOURCES
The service provider manages physical resources to ensure the safe delivery of care and services to
service users and organisation personnel
Practices and processes
 Consideration of special-needs groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with dementia,
people with a mental illness, people living in remote or isolated areas, people who are
financially or socially disadvantaged, people with disabilities, veterans, people who are
homeless or at risk of being homeless and care leavers (people who have experienced
institutional care, such as orphans and child migrants)
EO 2.1: SERVICE ACCESS
Each service user’s access to services is based on consultation with the service user (and/or their
representative), equity, consideration of available resources and program eligibility
What the quality reviewers may look at:
 Information for special-needs groups
EO 2.2: ASSESSMENT
Each service user participates in an assessment appropriate to the complexity of their needs and
with consideration of their cultural and linguistic diversity.
Practices and processes
 Consideration of special-needs groups
EO 2.3: CARE PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY
Each service user and/or their representative participates in the development of a care/service
plan that is based on assessed needs, and is provided with the care and/or services described in
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their plan.
Practices and processes
 Consideration of special-needs groups
EO 3.1: INFORMATION PROVISION
Each service user, or prospective service user, is provided with information (initially and on an
ongoing basis) in a format appropriate to their needs to assist them to make service choices
and gain an understanding of the services available to them and their rights and responsibilities.
Practices and processes
 Consideration of special-needs groups
EO 3.2: PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Each service user’s right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality is respected including in the
collection, use and disclosure of personal information
Practices and processes
 Consideration of special-needs groups
EO 3.3: COMPLAINTS AND SERVICE USER FEEDBACK
Complaints and service user feedback are dealt with fairly, promptly, confidentially and without
retribution
Practices and processes
Consideration of special-needs groups
EO 3.4: ADVOCACY
Each service user’s (and/or their representative’s) choice of advocate is respected by the service
provider and the service provider will, if required, assist the service user (and/or their
representative) to access an advocate
Practices and processes
 Consideration of special-needs groups
EO 3.5: INDEPENDENCE
The independence of service users is supported, fostered and encouraged.
Practices and processes
 Consideration of special-needs groups
Resources available to assist providers in their planning to support people from special
needs groups.
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Review ABS Census Data for an understanding of the local population
http://www.abs.gov.au/
Local Council websites have local demographic information and most Councils have
developed Social Plans which include issues relevant to the local population
The Department of Health (old DoHA) website have a range of statistics and tools which are
useful for service planning
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-stats-lapp.htm
People from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
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Learn about the traditional inhabitants of the area and if there are historically and culturally
significant Aboriginal sites in the area.
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Engage with local Aboriginal community groups.
The ACS Aboriginal HACC Development Officers have compiled a list of useful links to
information and resources that may assist community organisations to engage with their
local Aboriginal communities. These resources and tools have been developed by other
government and non-government organisations and we have found them to be informative
and user friendly.
http://www.agedservices.asn.au/docs/community-care-documents/resource-kit-finalv2.docx?sfvrsn=0
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The ACS Aboriginal HACC Development Officers have also put together useful information on
Torres Strait Islander people
http://www.agedservices.asn.au/docs/community-care-documents/torres-straitislander.docx?sfvrsn=0
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NSW Aboriginal Community Care Gathering Committee policy position Challenge, Change
and Choice. This includes guiding principles and recommendations on topics that are
important to the improvement of services to Aboriginal people in community care.
http://ncoss.org.au/resources/120704-challenge-change-choice.pdf
People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
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The Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) Program, was developed to improve
the capacity of aged care services to respond to the differing needs of older people from
culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Through the PICAC projects there is an
organisation funded in each State and Territory to provide this support through a PICAC
project.
PICAC coordinators work to improve the partnership between aged care providers, CALD
communities and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to ensure
that aged care service providers are informed on best practice in the delivery of culturally
appropriate care. The website contains a range of resources and demographic information.
http://picacnsw.org.au/
Multilingual translations of Ageing and Aged Care Division publications into community
languages on Department of Health (old DoHA) website
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-publicatsmulti.htm-copy2
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National Ageing and Aged Care Strategy for People from Culturally and Linguistically
Diverse (CALD) Backgrounds
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-cald-national-agedcare-strategy
Multicultural Access and equity: Strengthening connections between communities and
services (FECCA)
http://www.fecca.org.au/images/stories/documents/Submissions/2013/fecca_multicultural
_access_equity_report_june2013.pdf - includes good practice recommendations
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People from rural or remote areas
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Caring for the country: A spotlight on the needs of older people who live in rural and
remote NSW (Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing 2000) Whilst this report is not
getting a bit old, it provides a good overview of the issues facing older people in rural and
remote areas.
http://www.maca.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/141526/Caring_for_the_country
.pdf
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Living with dementia in regional NSW - Alzheimer’s Australia 2013
http://www.fightdementia.org.au/common/files/NSW/20131113-NSW-PUBDementia_in_regional_NSW.pdf provides information on the challenges people with
dementia, carers and service providers’ face in regional, rural and remote NSW
People who are financially or socially disadvantaged
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) outlines the relative disadvantage and advantage in an
area according to a Collection Districts (CD) score. ABS, SEIFA Data cube, 2006, released 26 March
2008. If the score is above the mean, it means it is an area of relative advantage, if below – relative
disadvantage.
Consider developing an Equity of Access Policy
AIHW - Socio-economic disadvantage and health http://www.aihw.gov.au/socio-economicdisadvantage-and-health/
Health and social disadvantage - ABS
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features30Mar+2010
Veterans
The Aged Care Act 1997 has a broad definition for this special needs group and may include married
women and allied forces veterans.
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‘Special Needs’ status for the veteran community in Australian Government aged care
planning - DVA Factsheet HSV 08 – provides good summary of health and aged care trends
for veterans, social and cultural characteristics and providing for veterans’ ‘Special Needs’
http://factsheets.dva.gov.au/factsheets/documents/HSV08%20Special%20Needs%20Status
%20in%20Aged%20Care%20Planning%20Explained%20for%20Members%20of%20the%20V
eteran%20Community.htm
DVA - ACPAC submissions – provide good summary information and statistics:
http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/aged_care_issues/Pages/index.aspx
Legacy provides information on support needs of widows:
http://www.legacy.com.au/Protectingageingandvulnerablewidows
People who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless
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ABS 2006 Census and AIHW, Counting the Homeless 2006, 2009
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Homelessness Taskforce, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and
Indigenous Affairs, The Road Home-A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness, 2008
http://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/housing-support/programsservices/homelessness/the-road-home-the-australian-government-white-paper-onhomelessness-0
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Link with Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged (ACHA) Providers they are a good
local resource -http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageingcommcare-acha-providers.htm
Homelessness Australia - http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/ - lots of resources and
statistics
Homelessness and Older People Fact Sheet
http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/images/publications/Fact_Sheets/Homelessness_
and_Older_People.pdf
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People from Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex communities
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National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Ageing and Aged Care
Strategy and consultation report
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/lgbti-ageing-and-agedcare-strategy
National LGBTI Health Alliance provides and range of information and links to a resources
http://www.lgbthealth.org.au/ageing
Care leavers and parents separated from their children by forced adoption or removal
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Alliance for Forgotten Australians - http://www.forgottenaustralians.org.au/
Forgotten Australians Booklets has some useful strategies http://www.forgottenaustralians.org.au/PDF/MiniAfaBooklet.pdf
Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN) - http://www.clan.org.au/
Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs
/Completed_inquiries/2010-13/commcontribformerforcedadoption/report/index
Particularly Chapter 4 Effects of forced adoption
People with dementia
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Australian Journal of Dementia Care - February/March 2014
Breaking the language barrier p. 12-13 - Residential aged care providers don’t need to be
multilingual to communicate effectively with non-English speaking people with dementia.
All that’s needed are some simple strategies and language communication tools writes
Hendrika Johnson
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Alzheimer’s Australia have multiple publications and resources
http://www.fightdementia.org.au/research-and-publications.aspx
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