4. Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for staff working in a Home and Community Care (HACC) service

Other fact sheets in this series
1. FAQs - General information on HACC transition
2. FAQs for HACC service providers
3. FAQs for HACC clients, carers and their families

4.1 What will the HACC reforms mean for staff delivering these services?

From 1 July 2012 the Commonwealth will directly fund HACC service providers delivering care to clients aged 65 years and over (50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). The Commonwealth will not substantially alter service delivery mechanisms before 1 July 2015.

Trained and experienced HACC care workers, administration and management staff will still be needed by service providers to continue delivery of HACC services.

Generally, most of the changes will be occurring at the administration level of the HACC Program, rather than in the areas of staff or client service delivery.

4.2 Do the HACC reforms address the aged care sector’s workforce issues?

The current reforms to the HACC Program do not directly address workforce issues.

The Commonwealth recognises the vital role played by aged care workers to ensure frail older Australians receive the care and support they deserve.
The Commonwealth will continue to work with the aged and community care sector on this issue.

Service providers, peak organisations, HACC clients, carers and other interested parties can provide comments, questions or feedback on the changes to HACC by emailing HACC.Reform@health.gov.au.

4.3 Will state and territory governments continue to be HACC service providers once the aged component of the program is transitioned to the Commonwealth?

Yes. It is expected that state and territory governments who currently provide basic community care services to older clients will continue to do so. The Commonwealth expects the current mix of community care providers – a mixture of government and non-government providers - will continue to provide services to older clients into the future.

4.4 What will the Commonwealth Government fund under the HACC aged care program?

The Commonwealth will continue to fund the HACC service types currently detailed in the HACC National Program Guidelines.

The Commonwealth will also continue to fund non-output services, or services not recorded in the Minimum Data Set (MDS), that support and strengthen service provision in the HACC sector. Some of these projects may need to be negotiated on a case by case basis.

4.5 Will state and territory government providers have to apply for funding for HACC aged care services?

No. The Commonwealth will offer existing HACC service providers funding for the services they provide to older people now.

Initially, Commonwealth funding will be via a direct allocation process and will not involve competitive tendering.

4.6 What will the changes mean for state and territory government staff providing aged care services?

Staff employed by state and territory governments to provide services to HACC aged care clients are expected to continue to be employed by state and territory governments. Trained and experienced care workers, administrators and management staff will still be required to continue to deliver services to support older Australians and their carers.

4.7 What will the changes mean for state and territory government staff employed to do program management work for HACC?

The Commonwealth may need additional staff to administer the new HACC Aged Care Program and will conduct competitive processes to fill any vacancies within the Commonwealth. State and territory employees would be able to apply for those positions if they meet the Commonwealth’s employment criteria.

4.8 How can state and territory government departments continue to be involved in the transition?

There are ongoing bilateral discussions with the state and territory government departments who administer the existing HACC program. We will continue to work together to ensure the smooth transition for service providers and particularly clients.

If you have any questions or comments, you can email HACC.Reform@health.gov.au