In a pre-budget submission, the peak body for aged care providers, Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) has told the Federal Government it is “crucial” that funding of the aged care system is addressed. It is also calling on the government to fund accommodation for aged care workers in rural and remote areas.
“We need a considered debate on how we fund aged care into the future including the possibility of consumer co-contributions for those who can afford it,” said ACCPA CEO Tom Symondson.
With inflation fuelling the economy, ACCPA is calling for funding to be indexed in line with the CPI, including “catch up funding” to levels matching that recommended by the royal commission.
ACCPA is also calling for an immediate processing of the “backlog” of Covid grant applications, an additional 20,000 home care packages be released, and that providers be funded to implement reforms.
“It is critical that any directions for possible changes to the regulatory system consider the impact and potential cost impost on providers, and the direct impact this has on consumers, in terms of implementation and ongoing costs,” the report notes.
ACCPA is also calling for home care innovations such as a centralised information repository for support plan documentation between providers, consultation on quality indicator data design and collection and expansion of the prototype home care assessment training tool.
ACCPA also says rural, regional and remote providers require additional investment for capital works and accommodation for aged care workers.
You can read the report in full here.
