Section 2 – Department Outcomes – 4 Aged Care and Population Ageing
Outcome 4
Aged Care and Population Ageing
Access to quality and affordable aged care and carer support services for older people, including through subsidies and grants, industry assistance, training and regulation of the aged care sector
Outcome Strategy
Through Outcome 4, the Australian Government aims to ensure that older people receive achoice of high quality, accessible and affordable care, and that carers getthe support theyneed to look after frail older people living at home. The Australian Government also aims to encourage older people to live active and independent lives.
In 2013-14, the Australian Government will continue to focus on implementing the Living Longer Living Better aged care reforms announced in the 2012-13 Budget.
Implementing some of these reforms requires legislative amendments while others require changes to administrative or funding arrangements. Work on the legislative amendments commenced in2012-13 and will continue to be a significant priority in 2013-14.
The reforms aim to build a better, fairer, more sustainable and nationally consistent aged care system to meet the social and economic challenges of Australia’s ageing population. Under the reforms, older people will be provided with more choice, more control and easier access to a full range of services, where they want them and when they need them.
The Aged Care Gateway will be introduced on 1 July 2013 and will include the MyAged Care website and a national contact centre. The Aged Care Gateway will assist older people, their families, and carers to access the information they need and be better able to navigate the aged care system.
Care provided in the homewill be improved through the introduction of two new levels of Home Care Packages from 1 July 2013.[1]All new Home Care Packages allocated from 1 July 2013 will be offered on a Consumer Directed Care basis. This will ensure older people have more choice and control over the services they receive.
The Aged Care Reform Implementation Council will continue to provide independent advice to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, and the Department,on the implementation and delivery of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package. The Ageing Expert Advisory Group and a number of specialist advisory groups, established under the auspices of the National Aged Care Alliance, will also continue to provide advice from the perspective of consumers and providers to the Department, the Council and the Minister on elements of the aged care reforms.
Outcome 4 is the responsibility of the Ageing and Aged Care Division and the Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance.
Programs Contributing to Outcome 4
Program 4.1: Access and Information
Program 4.2: Home Support
Program 4.3: Home Care
Program 4.4: Residential and Flexible Care
Program 4.5: Workforce and Quality
Program 4.6: Ageing and Service Improvement
Outcome 4 Budgeted Expenses and Resources
Table 4.1 provides an overview of the total expenses for Outcome 4 by program.
Table 4.1: Budgeted Expenses and Resources for Outcome 4
2012-13Estimated
actual
$'000 / 2013-14
Estimated
expenses
$'000
Program 4.1: Access and Information1
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) / 123,319 / 139,428
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation2 / 13,409 / 17,594
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year3 / 365 / 493
Total for Program 4.1 / 137,093 / 157,515
Program 4.2: Home Support1
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) / 1,385,773 / 1,484,777
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation2 / 29,740 / 30,220
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year3 / 874 / 1,182
Total for Program 4.2 / 1,416,387 / 1,516,179
Program 4.3: Home Care1
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) / - / -
Special appropriations
Aged Care Act 1997 - community care subsidies / 595,586 / 656,397
Aged Care Act 1997 - flexible care subsidies / 548,573 / 548,717
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation2 / 15,833 / 16,088
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year3 / 1,827 / 3,657
Total for Program 4.3 / 1,161,819 / 1,224,859
Program 4.4: Residential and Flexible Care1
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1)4 / 85,803 / 94,220
Zero real interest loans
- appropriation / 147,995 / 170,000
- expense adjustment5 / (93,666) / (101,978)
Special appropriations
Aged Care Act 1997 - flexible care subsidies / 351,335 / 371,947
Aged Care Act 1997 - residential care subsidies / 7,814,208 / 8,276,313
Aged Care (Bond Security) Act 2006 / 5,000 / -
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation2 / 34,018 / 34,567
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year3 / 2,362 / 4,379
Total for Program 4.4 / 8,347,055 / 8,849,448
Table 4.1: Budgeted Expenses and Resources for Outcome 4 (cont.)
2012-13Estimated
actual1
$'000 / 2013-14
Estimated
expenses1
$'000
Program 4.5: Workforce and Quality
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) / 151,562 / 175,328
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation2 / 99,486 / 101,093
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year3 / 2,926 / 3,953
Total for Program 4.5 / 253,974 / 280,374
Program 4.6: Ageing and Service Improvement
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1)5 / 96,504 / 119,096
Special appropriations
National Health Act 1953 - s12 continence aids program / 63,326 / 76,864
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation2 / 22,465 / 22,961
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year3 / 2,022 / 3,921
Total for Program 4.6 / 184,317 / 222,842
Outcome 4 totals by appropriation type
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1)5 / 1,990,956 / 2,182,849
- expense adjustment / (93,666) / (101,978)
Special appropriations / 9,378,028 / 9,930,238
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation2 / 214,951 / 222,523
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year3 / 10,376 / 17,585
Total expenses for Outcome 4 / 11,500,645 / 12,251,217
2012-13 / 2013-14
Average staffing level (number) / 1,407 / 1,375
1This program includes National Partnerships paid to state and territory governments by the Treasury as part of the Federal Financial Relations (FFR) Framework. National partnerships are listed in this chapter under each program. For budget estimates relating to the National Partnership component of this program, please refer to Budget Paper 3 or Program 1.10 of the Treasury Portfolio Budget Statements.
2Departmental appropriation combines "Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No 1)" and "Revenue from independent sources (s31)".
3Expenses not requiring appropriation in the Budget year" is made up of depreciation expense, amortisation expense, makegood expense and audit fees.
4Ordinary annual services (Bill 1) against program 4.4 excludes amounts appropriated in Bill 1 for Zero Real Interest Loans as this funding is not accounted for as an expense.
5Payments under the the zero real interest loans program are a loan to aged care providers and not accounted for as an expense. The concessional loan discount is the expense and represents the difference between an estimate of the market rate of interest, and that recovered under the loan agreement, over the life of the loan. This adjustment recognises the difference between the appropriation and the concessional loan discount expense.
Program 4.1: Access and Information
Program Objectives
Making it easier to find services – Aged Care Gateway
As part of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reformpackage, the Department will establish an identifiable entry point for aged care services under the Aged Care Gateway measure. From 1July2013, the Aged Care Gateway will include a national contact centre and the My Aged Care website. The Aged Care Gateway will assist older people, their families and carers to accesstailored and consistent information on the aged care system and services, with links to active and healthy ageing information.
Phased implementation of needs assessment in the Aged Care Gateway will occur from early to mid2014. Full operation of allassessment levels will be availablefrom 1 July 2014.The new assessment framework will position the Aged Care Gateway to assess people more consistently so that people with similar needs are assessed as eligible for similar aged care services. The Aged Care Gateway will provide assessments over the phone and refer people requiring face to face assessmentto teams of health professionals for assessment in their own homes and other settings as necessary.
From early 2014, the Linking Service willbe introduced through the Aged Care Gateway. This service will identify older, vulnerable people with multiple needs and provide access to appropriate services in and beyond aged care.
Provide equitable and timely access to aged care assessments
Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) will continue until the introduction of comprehensive assessment through the Aged Care Gateway. The Australian Government will continue to engage state and territory governments to operate ACATs until 30 June 2014.
In 2013-14, the Department will work in consultation with consumers, health professionals and aged care providers to support the integration of the assessment function into the Aged Care Gateway.
Program 4.1: Expenses
Table 4.2: Program Expenses
2012-13Estimated
actual
$'000 / 2013-14
Budget
$'000 / 2014-15
Forward
year 1
$'000 / 2015-16
Forward
year 2
$'000 / 2016-17
Forward
year 3
$'000
Annual administered expenses
Ordinary annual services / 123,319 / 139,428 / 137,467 / 135,585 / 144,756
Program support / 13,774 / 18,087 / 13,322 / 13,651 / 13,918
Total Program 4.1 expenses / 137,093 / 157,515 / 150,789 / 149,236 / 158,674
Program 4.1: Deliverables
Qualitative Deliverables for Program 4.1
Making it easier to find services – Aged Care Gateway
Qualitative Deliverable / 2013-14 Reference Point or TargetEstablish a Linking Service through the Aged Care Gateway to assist older vulnerable people to have access to services in and beyond aged care / Linking Services start operating through the Aged Care Gateway from early 2014
Provide equitable and timely access to aged care assessments
Qualitative Deliverables / 2013-14 Reference Point or TargetDevelopment and trial of assessment framework and tools for the aged care sector / National Assessment Framework and tools trialled in the Aged Care Gateway Platform
Aged Care Assessment Program (ACAP) training resources reflect current program operation and enable consistent decision making / Review of ACAP training resources completed by 1 December 2013
Quantitative Deliverables for Program 4.1
Making it easier to find services – Aged Care Gateway
Quantitative Deliverables / 2012-13 Revised Budget / 2013-14 BudgetTarget / 2014-15 Forward
Year1 / 2015-16 Forward
Year2 / 2016-17 Forward
Year3
Number of calls made to the Aged Care Gateway[2] / 280,000 / 550,000 / 600,000 / 650,000 / N/A[3]
Average number of unique visitors per month to the website[4] (My Aged Carewebsite from 1 July 2013) / 34,000 / 125,000 / 150,000 / 180,000 / 210,000
Number of vulnerable older people who are assisted by Linking Services / N/A / 28,500 / 58,500 / 60,500 / 63,500
Program 4.1: Key Performance Indicators
Qualitative Key Performance Indicator for Program 4.1
Provide equitable and timely access to aged care assessments
Qualitative Indicator / 2013-14 Reference Point or TargetACAP data is maintained to a high level of accuracy and is provided within the specified timeframe by the state and territory governments to the Commonwealth / State and territory governmentssuccessfully upload data files (quarterly or monthly, depending on their Agreement) into theAged Care Data Warehouse in the required format with error rate not exceeding 0.1%
Quantitative Key Performance Indicators for Program 4.1
Provide equitable and timely access to aged care assessments
QuantitativeIndicators / 2012-13 Revised Budget / 2013-14 Budget
Target / 2014-15 Forward
Year 1 / 2015-16 Forward
Year 2 / 2016-17 Forward
Year 3
Percentage of completed assessments undertaken on clients in the target population / 88% / 89% / 90% / 91% / 92%
Percentage of high priority assessments completed within 48hours of referral / 85% / 85% / 85% / 85% / 85%
ACATs meet National Minimum Training Standards and complete national training resources relevant to their roles and responsibilities / 100% / 100% / 100% / 100% / 100%
Program 4.2: Home support
Program Objectives
Provide integrated aged care services to people in their homes
Under the new Commonwealth Home Support Program, due to commence on 1July 2015, the Australian Government will consolidate the Commonwealth Home and Community Care(HACC) Program, the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP), the Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged (ACHA) Program and the Day Therapy Centres (DTC) Program. From 1 July 2012, the Australian Government assumed funding and operational responsibility of HACC services for people aged 65 years and over (50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) in all states and territories except Victoria and Western Australia.
To ensure continuity of services in the transition period to the Commonwealth Home Support Program, the Department will continue to build working relationships with more than 1,000 Commonwealth HACC providers and conduct consultation on the design of the new program. Under the National Health Reform Agreement, there will be no substantial changes to HACC service delivery until 2015.
An open and competitive funding round will occur in 2013-14 to increase Commonwealth HACC services, complementing the expanded support for carers.
In Victoria and Western Australia, basic community care services continue to be delivered under HACC as a joint Commonwealth-State funded program. The Australian Government is working with both state governments on parallel policy reform so that an older person’s experience of the aged care system is consistent across Australia.
Streamline and expand support offered to carers
As part of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reforms, the Australian Government providedan additional $54.8 million to support carers by increasing the availability of respite services, carer counselling and support services. Throughout 2013-14, the Department, in conjunction with stakeholders, will finalise a review of programs providing respite to carers.
From 1 July 2014, Carer Support Centres will be established to deliver a range of services that are carer focused and responsive to the needs and demands of carers in the community. The new Carer Support Centres will work closely with a range of stakeholders, including the Aged Care Gateway.
Assist older people who have insecure housing or are homeless
From January 2013 until 30 June 2015, the Australian Government will provide an additional $4.18 million for a targeted expansion of the ACHA program in regional and remote areas, where the incidence of older people who are homeless is highest. Through an expansion funding round, an additional 13 ACHA services will be funded in 2013-14, bringing the number of ACHA services to more than 50.
Assist older people to regain or maintain physical and cognitive abilities
The Australian Government will continue to fund DTCs to provide a range of allied health and therapy services, such as physiotherapy, podiatry and speech therapy to older people, which assists them to regain or maintain physical and cognitive abilities. There are more than 140 DTCs across Australia.
Program 4.2 is linked as follows:
- This Program includes National Partnership payments for:
-Basic community care maintenance and support (for Victoria and Western Australia).
Partnership payments are paid to state and territory governments by the Treasury as part of the Federal Financial Relations (FFR) Framework. For Budget estimates relating to the National Partnership component of the program, refer to Budget paper 3 or Program 1.10 of the Treasury’s Portfolio Budget Statements.
Program 4.2: Expenses
Table 4.3: Program Expenses
2012-13Estimated
actual
$'000 / 2013-14
Budget
$'000 / 2014-15
Forward
year 1
$'000 / 2015-16
Forward
year 2
$'000 / 2016-17
Forward
year 3
$'000
Annual administered expenses
Ordinary annual services / 1,385,773 / 1,484,777 / 1,603,386 / 1,720,439 / 1,862,500
Program support / 30,614 / 31,402 / 31,037 / 29,645 / 30,245
Total Program 4.2 expenses / 1,416,387 / 1,516,179 / 1,634,423 / 1,750,084 / 1,892,745
Program 4.2: Deliverables
Qualitative Deliverables for Program 4.2
Provide integrated aged care services to people in their homes
Qualitative Deliverables / 2013-14 Reference Point or TargetRegular stakeholder consultation in the development of the new Commonwealth Home Support Program through formal and informal mechanisms, including committees, working groups and submissions on Department discussion papers / Timely contact and consultation with key stakeholders
Competitive funding process for growth funding will be administered during 2013-14 / Funding agreements will be in place with successful applicants
Quantitative Deliverable for Program 4.2
Provide integrated aged care services to people in their homes
Quantitative Deliverable / 2012-13 Revised Budget / 2013-14 BudgetTarget / 2014-15 Forward
Year1 / 2015-16 Forward
Year2 / 2016-17 Forward
Year3
Number of older people receiving a Commonwealth HACC service[5][6] / 516,000 / 544,000 / 573,000 / N/A / N/A
Program 4.2: Key Performance Indicators
Qualitative Key Performance Indicator for Program 4.2
Provide integrated aged care services to people in their homes
Qualitative Indicator / 2013-14 Reference Point or TargetCommonwealth HACC services delivered by contracted service providers to support frail older people and their carers to get the support they need to remain at home / Regular reporting on key milestones from contracted service providers indicate that activities are being implemented according to contractual arrangements
Quantitative Key Performance Indicators for Program 4.2
Provide integrated aged care services to people in their homes
QuantitativeIndicator / 2012-13 Revised Budget / 2013-14 Budget
Target / 2014-15 Forward
Year 1 / 2015-16 Forward
Year 2 / 2016-17 Forward
Year 3
Number of HACC older clients receiving services as a percentage of the HACC target population[7][8] / ≥87% / ≥87% / ≥87% / N/A / N/A
Streamline and expand support offered to carers
QuantitativeIndicators / 2012-13 Revised Budget / 2013-14 Budget
Target / 2014-15 Forward
Year 1 / 2015-16 Forward
Year 2 / 2016-17 Forward
Year 3
Number of carers receiving counselling / 6,774 / 6,774 / 7,180 / 7,611 / 8,042
Number of carers receiving respite[9] / 69,536 / 70,260 / 74,476 / N/A / N/A
Assist older people who have insecure housing or are homeless
QuantitativeIndicator / 2012-13 Revised Budget / 2013-14 Budget
Target / 2014-15 Forward
Year 1 / 2015-16 Forward
Year 2 / 2016-17 Forward
Year 3
Number of funded ACHA services contracted to support clients with services linking them into their community[10] / 54 / 54 / 54 / N/A / N/A
Assist older people to regain or maintain physical and cognitive abilities
QuantitativeIndicator / 2012-13 Revised Budget / 2013-14 Budget
Target / 2014-15 Forward
Year 1 / 2015-16 Forward
Year 2 / 2016-17 Forward
Year 3
Number of people receiving DTC therapy[11] / 56,035 / 56,035 / 56,035 / N/A / N/A
Program 4.3: Home care
Program Objectives
More care at home
As part of the aged care reforms, the Australian Government is expanding the Home Care Packages Program. More than 80,000 additional Home Care Packages will be made available over 10 years to 2021-22. This will be achieved by increasing the home care planning benchmark from 27 to 45 packages for every 1,000 people aged 70 years or over.
The first tranche of 5,835 new Home Care Packages will be allocated through the 2012-13 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR), and will become available to consumers early in 2013-14.[12] Further packages will be allocated through future ACARs.Throughout 2013-14, the Australian Government will develop systems and processes to introduce fairer income testing for Home Care Packages.
Matching funding to care needs
The Australian Government has established new basic and intermediate package levels to offer an improved continuum of care for older people. From 1July 2013, there will be four package levels (Home Care Levels 1 to 4).[13]