General News
29 May, 2023
Pyrenees Shire Council raises concerns over aged care transition
The Pyrenees Shire Council has raised concerns over the speed the Victorian Government is shifting residents who access in-home aged care to new providers, as the organisation transitions away from providing the service. The council resolved to...
The Pyrenees Shire Council has raised concerns over the speed the Victorian Government is shifting residents who access in-home aged care to new providers, as the organisation transitions away from providing the service.
The council resolved to cease providing in-home care and community-based services in December last year amidst changing Federal Government support for the sector.
The change means that from July 1, council will no longer provide these services, which will instead be delivered by external providers nominated by clients.
The Pyrenees Shire Council had been providing the services for over 45 years, supported by funding by the Commonwealth Government, however a review of the government’s support model and announcement of the Support at Home Program meant funding amounts would change and council would have to foot a more than 700 percent fee increase.
Since December, council has been working with residents to support the transition to a new model of care, with the government nominating a number of service providers to residents in mid-March.
According to council, there are around 270 clients currently serviced under the existing program, with a majority of clients having already nominated their preferred provider moving forward.
“Council urges any clients who have not yet nominated their preferred provider, or provided the necessary consent, to do so as soon as possible to ensure the provider is in a position to deliver the services when Pyrenees ceases,” CEO Jim Nolan said.
“The new providers will be in contact with clients to advise them about the services, and council is working closely with the new providers to assist in the transition.
“Importantly, the council staff who have been instrumental in delivering these important services are highly sought after by the new providers, and we are assisting the new providers in this recruitment process.”
Council also provides services to approximately 18 clients under the state funded HACC-PYP program (for clients aged 65 years or younger), and council notified the Victorian Government in December 2022 of its intent to cease these services also.
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing is working with providers of these services to transition clients across to these new providers ahead of the July 1 cut off.
However, Mr Nolan said there are concerns the Victorian Government has not progressed this quickly enough.
“Council has concerns that this process has not been progressed in a timely way by the state and we are working with the department in order to provide timely advice to our clients,” he said.
“Council encourages these clients to maintain contact with council if they have any queries or concerns so that we can provide the most up-to-date information.
“Council is committed to do everything we can to ensure both commonwealth and state governments take responsibility for these services and ensure our residents continue to receive the services they deserve.”