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Getting Community Care Providers Connected Connections in Aged & Community Care Symposium 2 July 2010

Getting Community Care Providers Connected

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Getting Community Care Providers Connected. Connections in Aged & Community Care Symposium 2 July 2010. Community Care in Australia. Govt investment in community care services - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Connections in Aged & Community Care Symposium2 July 2010

Page 2: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Community Care in AustraliaGovt investment in community care services

In 2008-09 $2.9 Billion for Community Care services across Australia - including expenditure of $1.8 Billion on Home and Community Care (HACC)

Almost 1 Million people accessed support - collectively across funded community care programs

Broad range of programs/initiativesPrivately funded service options increasingGrowing area and preferred by many older

Australians

Page 3: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Community Care in QueenslandLarge number and diversity (size, location,

focus)of service providersIncreased use of technology for business

operationsSome providers adopting “virtual office”,

significant investment in telecommunications and computer software/hardware

Limited evidence of smart technology changing the way services are delivered or replacing face-to-face service provision

Page 4: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Community Care in QueenslandHACC Service Types & Guidelines – strong

focus on supporting independent living and funded on hours/transport trips/meals/modifications

Veterans Home Care – similar to HACCPackaged Care (CACPs/EACH/EACHD) –

more complex care and greater flexibility in applying funding but use of technology not actively promoted

Funding to Life Tec to promote and advise on assistive technology but not for direct subsidies or provision of equipment to clients

Page 5: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Investment in TechnologyCommonwealth Govt in 2007-08 allocated

$21.4 million over four years to :1. Undertake research into national and international use of

Assistive Technologies2. Establish an industry body to:

– promote the use of assistive technology, and– to use the busying power of the large number of services- to negotiate discounts on assistive technology solutions.

3. Offer annual grants program ($15.3 million over three years) to fund innovation in Assistive Technology– First grants to be advertised early in the 2008 calendar year

And then……

Page 6: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Investment in Technology2009 budget discontinued initiative as:

“aged care industry is now aware of the availability and benefits of such technology.”

Page 7: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Investment in TechnologySmart Home DemonstratorQueensland HACC Program 2010

- $1.1 million one-off funding targeted at “smart assistive technology”

Linked to provision of allied health services

Focus on promoting a person’s functional independence

BUT……….

Page 8: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Investment in TechnologyA welcome but small, targeted

investmentPotentially fragmented approachFunded organisations responsible for

own evaluationUnclear how initiative will be evaluated

as a whole No commitment for ongoing

support/focusHACC Program will be split from mid

2012 – ageing part to the Commonwealth

Page 9: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

What’s Required ?Government needs to recognise and actively

promote technologyGovernment program and funding guidelines

need to allow for investment/provision of smart assistive technology as normal part of service provision

Ensuring research and evidence is provided to key decision makers within Government (politicians and bureaucrats)

Raising awareness with consumers and within broader community

Page 10: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

An International example

Page 11: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Opportunities to InfluenceQueensland Govt – 10 year plan for

Queenslanders with a disability – consultation process

Department of Health & Ageing - to get back on agenda (Aged Care Innovative Pool)

Queensland Govt – Positively Ageless Seniors Strategy 2010-20

Submissions to Productivity Commission InquiriesCare of Older AustraliansDisability Care & Support

Page 12: Getting Community Care Providers Connected

Let’s Get Connecting!

Paul JohnsonCommunity Care Manager

Aged Care [email protected]