Federal Government aged care reforms

The Federal Government is reviewing aged care services to ensure older Australians receive quality aged care services and also have choice and control to choose the services they need from the providers they want, and easily change services and providers.

The Federal Government is currently consulting older Australians, carers and families to improve aged care, including how it is designed, funded, regulated and delivered.

Once the Federal Government’s changes are known, Glen Eira will consider how best to respond.

Glen Eira City Council currently receives funding from the Australian Government to provide independent living services including:

• domestic assistance (house cleaning and meal preparation)
• personal care (showering and self-care)
• social support
• home maintenance
• delivered meals.

All those with an interest in the future of aged care can participate in the Federal Government’s engagement program, visit the Let's change aged care together website.

To represent the interests of Glen Eira’s older residents, their carers and our aged care workforce, Council is participating in the Federal Government’s engagement program.

While the Federal Government’s review is underway, our 2,300 older residents who receive in-home aged care from Council will continue to receive the quality services they always have.

Living and ageing well in Glen Eira

We wanted to prepare for these reforms by better understanding community views on in-home and other aged-care services. We thank the more than 1,200 Glen Eira residents who shared their views on healthy ageing.

Once the Federal Government’s changes are known, Council will consider how best to respond to any changes in aged-care service and funding models.

The Living and ageing well in Glen Eira community engagement findings and Living and ageing well in Glen Eira summary tells you what we heard from the community and how Council will use the feedback for planning and advocacy to meet the needs of our older residents.

We used the insights from the engagement to respond to the Federal Government’s A New Program for In-Home Aged Care Discussion Paper, submitted to the Department of Health and Aged Care. Glen Eira City Council submission to the Federal Governments discussion paper: A new program for in-home aged care was endorsed by Council on 13 December 2022.

In the submission we outline the challenges that significant reform changes will have for Council and we advocate for a strong service system where Glen Eira residents can continue to access high-quality aged care services.

Council has proposed that the Federal Government:

• continues to provide secure funding for our in-home aged care services;
• recognises the unique position of local government as a provider;
• gives us the chance to collaborate with them to develop a robust and extended transition plan to reduce risk of market failure and support providers; and
• acknowledges and funds activities that support older people holistically to live and age well and remain connected and thriving in their local community.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Aged and Independent Living Services on 9524 3333 or email CEngagement@gleneira.vic.gov.au. 

Please visit the website for more on the Federal Government’s aged care reforms.