COMMUNIQUE
HOME SUPPORT ADVISORY GROUP & SUB GROUPS
May 2013
This document reflects ongoing discussion and debate regarding the implementation of the LLLB aged care
reforms. It is an interim information document that represents discussion at this point in time and is not reflective
of either NACA or DoHA advice, position, or recommendations.
Commonwealth Home Support Program Advisory Group – Meeting: 30 April 2013
The third meeting of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Advisory Group was held on 30
April 2013 via teleconference.
The committee reviewed a draft paper on the CHSP Design Principles. The paper will be further
considered at the June meeting and articulates a Vision, design principles and target groups for
consideration in the design of the CHSP which commences from 1 July 2015.
An updated paper from the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) outlined the progress of the five
sub-group reviews of the Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) service groups and related
programs. These reviews will also help inform the program design of the CHSP.
Commonwealth Home Support Program Advisory Sub-Groups
Five sub-groups have been established to provide sector advice to DoHA on the various HACC reviews
being undertaken. Information from sub-groups is included in this Home Support communique along with
the work of the broader advisory group. The sub-groups will meet through 2013 when the majority of the
work for the reviews will be undertaken.
Originally a sixth sub-group on interface issues was to be established. Given the critical importance of
these issues it will now be created as a separate NACA advisory group to discuss how elements within the
aged care reforms interact and more broadly, how the aged care reforms interface with disability services
and the general health system.
Respite Sub-Group – Meetings: 30 January, 7 February, 27 March, 26 April 2013
The Sub-Group has met on four occasions to develop a paper on respite under the future CHSP. Pat
Sparrow is currently the independent chair on behalf of the NACA Secretariat, Aged Care Reform.
The Sub-Group is developing a paper that outlines a longer term vision for respite, an overview of current
respite arrangements, and proposals for respite under the CHSP. The paper recommends objectives,
service models and the target group for respite services. The paper discusses how respite can support
special needs groups, as well as discusses interface issues both within aged care and between the aged
care and disability respite services.
One of the central recommendations of the Sub-Group is that only services that are provided to older
people with carers, specifically designed to provide relief, support or assistance to the care relationship
Communiqué # 3 – 21 June 2013
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should be identified as respite. These services should be consolidated into a single respite service stream
under the CHSP.
Services that may provide a respite-effect, but that are not specifically designed as respite (e.g. Centrebased day care & Day Therapy Centres) would continue under alternate funding streams of the CHSP that
focus on social support and community engagement.
The paper is envisaged to be provided to NACA in late June for endorsement.
HACC Service Group 2 Sub-Group – Meetings: 19 April 2013, 14 May 2013
The HACC Service Group 2 (SG2) Sub-Group met for the first time on 19 April 2013 in Melbourne. At this
meeting it elected Paul Johnson from Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) as its independent Chair.
The Sub-Group discussed the broad range of activities and services that are currently funded within
Service Group 2 including:
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Assessment;
Case Management;
Care Coordination;
Counselling/Support/Information & Advocacy (client); and
Counselling/Support/Information & Advocacy (carer).
The Sub-Group discussed the focus and framework of the planned survey to help inform the review of
these service types. Further feedback on the survey was provided by the group at its subsequent
teleconference held on 14 May.
DoHA conducted a request for tender process and appointed AHA Consulting to support the review
through a literature review, data analysis, and facilitation of national consultations. These consultations
are anticipated to occur in June-July 2013.
The SG2 Sub-Group also discussed the future of assessment in a reformed aged care system focusing on
the need to balance ease of access for consumers who may only need to receive a single service (e.g.
transport or meals) with streamlined access through the Gateway.
HACC Meals Review - Sub group – Meeting: 29 April 2013
The Meals Review Sub-Group met for the first time on 29 April 2013 in Brisbane. It elected Patricia
Mitchell from Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) as its independent chair.
DoHA conducted a request for tender process and appointed the Australian Institute for Primary Care and
Ageing (AIPCA) at La Trobe University to support the review by providing a literature review, data analysis,
and facilitation of national consultations. Consultations with providers will occur in July 2013. A sample of
consumers will also be invited to participate (through providers) via questionnaires and centre-based
focus groups.
In this initial meeting the sub-group:
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Examined the Statement of Purpose;
Explored the sector expectations, and scope, of the meals review;
Discussed the goals and outcomes of meals services;
Workshopped the positive aspects and the issues in the current system; and
Discussed the timelines and process for the review including the role of the consultants from
LaTrobe University.
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The Sub-Group recommended an expansion of the draft Statement of Purpose to ensure the review is
inclusive of both meals “and other food services”. The primary focus of the meals review is on homedelivered and centre-based meals (funded under Service Group 6 of the Commonwealth HACC program),
and the role of “other meals services” (funded under Service Group 1), which provide assistance with food
preparation and cooking.
When a service delivers a meal, but this is not the primary aim of a service (e.g. Day Therapy Centres
where a program includes a cooked meal) they will not form part of the review. However, such services
may be noted in order to build a full understanding of meals provision within the sector. The support
provided to clients by dieticians and nutritionists through allied health services will also be considered.
The discussions from the first meeting identified some issues and aspirations to help shape the work of
the Sub-Group. These aspirations envisage a meals and other food services system which:
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Has a nationally clear and consistent purpose and program structure, but which is still locally
responsive as well as flexible to meet individual needs, preferences and goals;
Provides consumers with information and empowers them to make decisions that are respected –
both in regards to nutritional choices and what services are right for them;
Recognises the significant contribution of volunteers to the meals services and develops
appropriate service models that are adaptable to changes in future volunteering patterns;
Retains its primary focus of providing meals to those who are nutritionally-at-risk, while
respecting and enabling the wide range of associated benefits around meals provided to
consumers;
Is inclusive of the full range of meal and other food services (i.e. centre meals, group meals, food
preparation, shopping, café meals, innovative programs, cooking classes etc.) not just home-based
and centre-based meal provision;
Responds to the needs of vulnerable people, people with specific and cultural needs, and low
socio-economic groups;
Considers the most appropriate funding model/s to ensure a sustainable meals sub-sector,
including consideration of supplements, block funding, client co-contributions, nonCommonwealth Government contributions and true unit costs;
Acknowledges the benefits and importance of regulation/OHS/food safety in providing a high
quality service while recognising the impact to the sector in meeting compliance costs;
Acknowledges the role of dieticians and nutritionists (currently funded under SG3 – Allied Health)
and tries to consistently utilise these specialists where possible/desirable; and
Continues to encourage localised responses, with communities of knowledge sharing and the
uptake of best practice.
Community Transport Sub-Group – Meeting: 7 May 2013
The Community Transport Sub-Group met for the first time via teleconference on 7 May 2013. At this
meeting the Sub-Group elected Helen Battellino from the Australian Community Transport Association as
its independent chair.
DoHA is currently undertaking a tender process to select a consultant to assist in the review. The
consultant will provide a literature review, data analysis, and facilitation of national consultations. It is
anticipated the consultants will be announced by the end of June 2013.
The following aspirations are in their developmental stage and will be subject to further review at the next
Sub-Group meeting in June 2013. The aspirations envisage a community transport system which:
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Recognises that community transport provides a vital service to older people who live in areas of
public transport disadvantage or who can no longer drive or use public transport alone;
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Recognises that transport is essential to accessing services that address ‘clinical/medical’, ‘daily
activities’, and ‘social connection’ needs and which are necessary to support living in the
community;
Provides easily accessible and clear information on transport options in local areas;
Encourages community transport providers to adopt CDC principles;
Recognises that choice may be limited in many rural and regional areas;
Acknowledges values and supports the crucial contribution made by volunteers in the delivery of
community transport services;
Utilises funding models, which support a financially sustainable sector in both metropolitan and
regional settings, support diversity in service models to best suit local conditions, and adequately
meets needs;
Embraces and supports diversity and collaboration between providers, innovation, best-practice
models, and the use of latest technology;
Reports all transport services, including consequential transport services (i.e. transport that occurs
as part of services from non-transport specific funding) in minimum data sets and other data
reporting practices.
Further work will be undertaken to assist the review in future meetings.
HACC Service Group 5 Sub-Group (Home Modifications, Home Maintenance, Equipment and Linen) –
Meeting: 29 April 2013
The Service Group 5 (SG5) Sub-Group met for the first time via teleconference on 1 May 2013. The first
meeting was chaired by Corey Irlam from the NACA Aged Care Reform Secretariat.
The Department is currently undertaking a selection process for a consultant to assist in the review of
Service Group 5. The consultant will provide a literature review, data analysis, and facilitation of national
consultations. It is anticipated the consultants will be announced by the end of June 2013.
The following aspirations are in their developmental stage and will be subject to further review at the next
Sub-Group meeting in June 2013:
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Delivers home modifications, maintenance services (HMMS) and equipment services within a
wellness and reablement approach aimed at lowering individual care needs, and utilising a CDC
approach;
Ensures appropriate aids and equipment are available to improve quality of life;
Allocates HMMS services in accordance with nationally consistent assessment tools;
Matches HMMS services to individual care plans;
Respects consumer choices;
Delivers HMMS services to a high quality standard in accordance with relevant regulations and
legislation;
Utilises assessment via the Gateway, including identification of individual needs and solutions, to
develop holistic care plans, avoid service silos and determine if modification is the most
appropriate service;
Has clear and consistent national guidelines, which identify how and when HMMS’s are to be
provided; and
Evaluates all services, and engages rigorous data collection to ensure national consistency.
Further work will be undertaken to assist the review in future meetings.
If you require further information you should feel free to contact your NACA representative or the NACA
Secretariat – Aged Care Reform for more details on (03) 9909 7910 or at reform@cota.org.au
Communiqué # 3 – 21 June 2013
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