Geelong in-home community care vote postponed following backlash

COMMUNITY backlash has forced the City of Greater Geelong to postpone its vote on in-home community care.

Councillors were to vote on Thursday this week, following a recommendation from city officers to transition all in-home community care clients across the municipality to specialist local providers.

But the city’s chief executive officer Ali Wastie released a statement earlier today (Tuesday, April 8) to announce the decision had been put on hold.

“The city will be deferring the Aged Care decision originally scheduled for Thursday, April 10 to enable further consultation,” Ms Wastie said.

“The city welcomes the opportunity to work through this process in good faith with our employees and the Australian Services Union (ASU).”

The ASU had earlier demanded the council delay Thursday’s meeting to give workers a fair opportunity to be consulted, and said it had filed an application to the Fair Work Commission.

The city’s original plan followed an independent review into the aged care reforms introduced by the federal government in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The newly-created Support at Home program features changes to rights, access, funding, home support, quality standards and regulation.

It will replace the Home Care Package Program from July 1, and the Commonwealth Home Support Program, which will transition no earlier than 2027.

The city, which has already sounded out aged care providers, originally stated it engaged independent consultants to conduct a review.

It found specialist aged care providers were well placed to provide the best quality client service, with Greater Geelong benefiting from a strong and well-serviced market.

But the proposal received backlash, with an ASU online petition that highlighted job cuts and fears for clients gaining hundreds of signatures.

“The City of Greater Geelong has announced that they intend to cut up to 300 jobs and will no longer provide vital aged care services to vulnerable, elderly residents in the region,” the petition stated.

“The council’s community care workers provide older Geelong residents with the services they need to help them to live safely and comfortably at home.”

ASU was scheduled to hold a rally today at Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct in response to the proposed cuts. ASU member and former Geelong councillor Sarah Hathway said councillors would be inside at a final briefing during this time.

In a statement, Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said the city’s plan was driven by the federal government’s aged care reforms.

“it must be highlighted that Greater Geelong is one of only 11 out of 79 local councils across the state still providing this service.”

Ms Wastie originally said the aim of the transition was to ensure the community was provided with the best possible service.

“We feel that specialised aged care providers who make this their core business will provide the best standard of care going into the future.

“We are committed to guiding our staff and clients through any transition, but cannot pre-empt how council will respond to our recommendation.”

The city stated a range of services for older residents would continue to be provided, including grants for senior activities, facilities such as senior centres and neighbourhood houses, sports infrastructure, library funding, seniors week activities, advocacy against elder abuse, and promoting positive ageing.