A REGIONAL community health service has been awarded full funding for in-home and community-based aged and disability services after Gannawarra Council withdrew from the program.
Northern District Community Health said in a statement it was an “opportunity to confirm … commitment to local community health and aged care outcomes, and strengthen … integrated, quality care to older people and people with disability across our community”.
“We wish to deliver locally-based, responsive quality aged and disability services under current program and funding arrangements,” it said.
Gannawarra Council joined a growing list of local governments to ditch the Commonwealth Home Support Program because the Federal Government is changing its funding model from block funding, in which councils get a set amount of money to provide services based on how many elderly people need support, to a consumer-directed model.
Block funding is delivered through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) while consumer-directed funding is delivered through Home Care packages. The government will roll the two programs into one from June 2023.
Dean Hurlston, of Ratepayers Victoria, said he expected 80 per cent of councils to get out of home aged care services rather than continue to provide services under the consumer-directed model.
“They just can’t make money out of it any more as it has to be cost neutral,” he said.
NCDH said it had “strong place-based connections to the rural communities we serve, reinforced through the delivery of services, supports and initiatives over 32 years”.
NCDH chief executive Mandy Hutchinson said the service was committed to the people living in the community and to supporting the availability of local services that
are needed to support people to remain living confidently and safely in their home and community.
“NDCH have had a wonderful response from our community care worker workforce campaign,” she said.
“We have had lots of interest and applications, and the calibre of the applicants has been outstanding, and we are thrilled that local people wish to work with NDCH.
“NDCH is looking forward to working with residents who receive services, council, state and federal governments, providers and volunteers to ensure a smooth transition of services.”
The council welcomed the decision to award NDCH the full amount of funding for residents aged 65 years and older, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and are over 50 years old.
“The Department of Health and Aged Care’s decision to award all of council’s Commonwealth Home Support Program funding to Northern District Community Health will ensure a smooth transition of services for residents who receive these vital services and their loved ones,” council chief executive Geoff Rollinson said.
“Northern District Community Health is a trusted local health provider that already provides valuable support to our residents, and this announcement will be great news for the future of aged and disability services in the Gannawarra.”
“Council, our dedicated staff and valuable volunteers are committed to providing a high quality of service, delivered with kindness, compassion and care, between now and October 31.”
