Central Goldfields Shire assessing future of care services

It appears that another Victorian regional council is reconsidering the future viability of its home care services, with Central Goldfields Shire Council sending a survey to residents seeking their attitudes towards CHSP services. A long line of Victorian councils have already exited CHSP programs in recent years.

Central Goldfields Shire Council has issued a statement saying, “The Commonwealth Government’s current reform of aged care is introducing significant changes to the funding and delivery of aged care services, including those services currently delivered by Central Goldfields Shire Council. “From 1 July 2024 it is anticipated that eligible Central Goldfields Shire residents will have choice over who, how and where their services are delivered and will have the opportunity to choose an aged care provider that can deliver a range of services that suits their current and future needs and priorities. This may or may not be their current provider. For example, a resident may choose to have delivered meals by one provider and personal care by a different provider.

A question from the Central Goldfields Shire Council survey.

“For Council to remain a provider of some or all community-based aged care services, it will need to compete for available funding, retain current clients and attract new clients to purchase its services to remain viable. “Council will also need to introduce changes to the way it currently manages and provides community aged care services to meet future regulatory requirements and to remain feasible in a new market environment. “Given the introduction of changes as a result of the aged care reform, Council needs to consider and respond to these future arrangements and explore how it may best meet the needs and aspirations of its older residents and ageing community now and into the future.”