On this page:
The transition
Beyond 1 July 2012
Preparing for the transition
Updates
The transition
South Australia is working closely with the Commonwealth to ensure the transition progresses in a way that aims for:
- continuity of care for clients
- seamless transition of service provision for clients
- minimal disruption to the service system
- minimal additional complexity and cost for service providers.
It is expected that the new funding arrangements will have minimal impact on client services.
Service providers will continue to provide the same support to the same HACC eligible clients as usual. New contracting and cross-billing arrangements will occur behind the scenes and will not affect the day to day delivery of services to HACC clients.
The Department for Families and Communities (DFC), through Disability, Ageing and Carers (DAC), is progressing the HACC transition process and a joint implementation plan is currently being developed with the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA).
This will address timeframes for transitioning contractual arrangements and provide a framework for individual discussions with agencies regarding the process and timelines.
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Beyond 1 July 2012
After 1 July 2012 the Commonwealth, through DoHA, will directly manage contracts with service providers for the over 65 (or over 50 for Aboriginal people) component of the HACC program. There is no intention to substantially alter service delivery mechanisms before 1 July 2015.
DFC will directly manage HACC contracts with service providers for younger people with a disability under the age of 65 (or under 50 for Aboriginal people).
The reforms provide an opportunity for SA to focus on the development of an integrated service system for clients and their carers. However, as with the Commonwealth, DFC will ensure the continuity and consolidation of current services prior to making any program changes.
Understanding the younger client population will be a priority for DFC in planning for the future. The DAC National Strategies Unit will conduct a survey of the main conditions of younger HACC clients that contribute to their need for services.
For more information about the survey contact:
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Preparing for the transition
In the next few months DoHA and DFC will be jointly discussing contracts for the next period with service providers. It is important that service providers review their data around the current services and outputs they are contracted to provide to the different client groups - eg - over or under 65 years, 50 years for Aboriginal people.
More information around new contracts and the timing of these discussions will be provided to each agency soon.
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Updates
Check Sector communications for regular updates on the HACC transition progress. Other updates will be via emails, DAC publications and reports at network forums, including the collaborative projects, as well as through discussions with your DAC project officer in the course of normal business.
You can also speak to a HACC Transition Team member:
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