Council keeps preparing for aged care reforms

Cr Margot Smith, who sits on the council’s Positive Ageing Advisory Committee, said the shire was well prepared for these reforms.”We’ve been planning ahead for three years now, knowing the Commonwealth Government changes were on the way, and the needs of our clients and our community has been paramount.

“Council’s November resolution is an important milestone as it enables both Council and government departments to formally start transition processes, but it won’t result in immediate change.”

At last week’s council meeting, Cr Clive Goldsworthy said he felt council had gotten things right with their planning for the reform.

“It’s very interesting when you talk to some of the other councils around this part of the country. There’s some very differing views on what to do with our aged care reforms, and I certainly believe we’re leading the field in what we’ve done.”

The council released their reform readiness plan in June this year.

At their August 27 meeting, councillors passed a motion that implemented transitional processes, allowing the council to stop providing certain specialist support services by December.

However the council is eager to ensure that nobody remains unaccounted for during the process, and has stated it will ensure people will have their needs funded if alternative services are not found by the deadline.

“Despite issuing the formal notices above, the departments have rights under the contracts requiring Council to continue delivering the funded services until alternate service providers are appointed and start service delivery.”

Cr Smith reaffirmed this point last week.

“I’m sure that as we go through this process we’ll be coming back to council if there are any issues.”

The council is working with the Department of Health to transfer services to new providers.

They will also look to transition services delivered through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services.

At the council meeting, several councillors thanked the Positive Ageing Advisory Committee for their help regarding the matter. The committee was set up in October last year to help inform the council’s decisions regarding older people.