Not For Profit home care providers Benetas and Intereach have been awarded Government contracts to deliver home care services that have until now been delivered by Macedon Ranges Shire Council in central Victoria.
The Council said the decision paves the way for the two providers to begin transitioning Macedon Ranges residents over the age of 65 to their services.
Last year, the Council decided that from 30 June 2023 it would stop providing home care services through the Commonwealth Home Support Program due to reforms being brought in by the Federal Government.
From 1 July 2024, the CHSP, the Home Care Packages Program and Short Term Restorative Care Programme will merge into the new Government run In-Home Aged Care program.
The new model will mean that home care providers will have to offer a broader range of services than Macedon Ranges Council is currently providing.
In-Home Aged Care will be resourced to provide in-home, personal, nursing, and allied health care.
Macedon Ranges Council’s CEO, Bernie O’Sullivan, said, “Transferring these services is a difficult, yet necessary decision for Council – it will allow us to refocus our investment to support a broader cohort of older residents in the shire.
“The two new providers have both already had a presence locally and Council will be there every step of the way to ensure a seamless transition for our clients, their families and staff.”
Almost 10,000 residents in the Shire are over the age of 65, nearly 20% of the population.
Barely a week now goes by that we don’t report on a Victorian regional council ceasing to provide home care services.
