After seperate reviews Warrnambool City Council and Mount Alexander Shire Council have committed to delivering home care services into the future with plans to expand their service offering.
Warrnambool City Council on the south west cost of Victoria is the largest provider of home care services in its region with 1,400 clients. The Council conducted a review of its home care operations ahead of the Government’s reforms to the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), which will transition to Support at Home in 2027.
At a meeting this week, the Council voted to remain involved in and to expand and diversify the aged care services it delivers, they said in a statement.
“I think it’s an amazing outcome that we’re actually going to continue to deliver and expand services,” Mayor Cr Ben Blain (right) said.
“Warrnambool City Council is going against the trend of other LGAs who are exiting services. We’re really giving it a stamp of confidence and we really do think that local government can do a great job of delivering these services to the community.”
A review of its home care services found the operations were sustainable and there are no local providers that have the capacity to deliver the volume of services provided by Council. The services were also widely supported by the community.
Council is now working to transition the CHSP into Support At Home Program from 1 July 2027.
Mount Alexander Shire Council is in central Victoria and has been delivering home care services under the CHSP since 1984. It has approximately 50 staff and 900 clients. Following a review of its home care operations it has committed to a continuation of its services and expanding its home care offering.
Mount Alexander Shire Council Mayor, Matthew Driscoll (pictured left), said: “Council boasts a committed pool of staff, which is a key factor in contributing to make it an excellent service, and one that people can, and do rely on.”
While there are many difficulties facing aged care providers, Mayor Driscoll said, such as workforce shortages and increased infection control measures, increasing demand for services offers an opportunity for councils to become local leaders in the sector.
Mount Alexander Shire Council is in the process of registering to become a Home Care Package Provider.
“This will ensure we can respond to clients with higher needs in a timely manner," Mayor Driscoll said.
Mount Alexander Shire is now also working on the transition to the new Support at Home Program.
In February, The SOURCE reported that since 1 July 2021, 80 local Councils have exited, at least in part, the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), the low-care Government-funded program that currently delivers services to more than 800,000 older Australians in the community. Of those Councils to exit, more than half - 46 - were in Victoria.
