C O M M U N I Q U E
ASSESSMENT ADVISORY GROUP
January 2014
This document reflects ongoing discussion and debate regarding the implementation of aged care reform. It is an interim information document that represents discussion at this point in time and is not reflective of either NACA or DSS advice, position, or recommendations.
The Gateway Advisory Group had an assessment sub group and a business design sub group. The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Advisory Group had a sub group examining HACC Service Group 2 which was considering assessment.
In the latter half of 2013 a NACA Assessment Advisory Group, combining the sub groups from the Gateway and the CHSP sub group was formed to streamline the consultation and development process. August and September communiques from this group were provided and are available on the NACA website.
Towards the end of 2013 the members of the business design advisory group attended a number of meetings with the assessment advisory group as the work of both were interlinked. DSS expanded these meetings to include State & Territory jurisdictional representatives to bring all relevant stakeholders together to discuss this critical reform element.
The purpose of this communique is to bring all NACA members and their networks up to date with progress and developments on assessment.
Developing the Aged Care Assessment System
In mid 2013 an aged care assessment tool was trialled by the Centre for Health Services Development (CHSD) at Wollongong University. The trial showed that more people required face to face assessment than had been originally anticipated and that the tool did not support a wellness and reablement approach to the provision of aged care services. NACA had been concerned about these issues.
As a result DSS, in conjunction with the NACA Advisory Group and the State & Territory Governments, has been reconsidering how assessment should be undertaken within the aged care service system.
Discussions have included consideration of the:
- role of the My Aged Care Gateway – particularly in relation to eligibility or screening assessments;
- role of service providers throughout the whole assessment process;
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- best way of delivering face to face comprehensive assessment including models that maintain the current system (ACATs assessing for residential and packaged care and service providers for home care) or develop independent regional assessment services based on the individual rather than based on Commonwealth Government funding programs; and
- embedding of wellness and reablement service provision in the system and designing an assessment tool and process that supports that.
No decisions about the approach, tool or system have been made.
NACA is finalising an advisory paper which has gone through a significant consultation phase with the Assessment Advisory Group, the Gateway Advisory Group, the Commonwealth Home Support Advisory Group and the full NACA membership. It is intended to have this paper finalised in early January.
NACA members have different views on how the comprehensive face to face assessment should be undertaken but there is strong agreement that:
- the process should be designed around the needs of the individual older person rather than on the basis of Commonwealth Government funding programs;
- eligibility assessment needs to occur and could be done largely via the Gateway;
- comprehensive assessment needs to occur face to face and in the older persons home wherever possible; and
- assessment should support wellness and reablement service provision.
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
Assessment Communiqué – January 2014Page 1