Bundaberg Regional Council, which covers a 6,500sqm region 250km north of Brisbane, has voted unanimously to transition out of in-home care after more than 25 years.
The decision comes ahead of a slew of incoming aged care reforms, including the implementation of the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home from 1 July 2025, and rolling the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) into Support at Home after 1 July 2027.
Bundaberg Regional Mayor Helen Blackburn said a specialist aged care provider would be better suited to managing CHSP services than the Council.
“This is not a cost saving exercise for Council as these services were funded by the Federal Government,” she said.
“We are exiting this activity due to legislative changes that make it very difficult for council to continue to undertake [the services]."
The Council plans to transition out of the CHSP over a five-month period to ensure a smooth transition of services to new providers.
Bundaberg Regional Council provides CHSP at Gracie Dixon Centre in Bundaberg, Isis Community Care, Childers, and Kolan Community Options in Gin Gin.
About 100 local councils have made the decision to get out of in-home care ahead of the incoming reforms in recent years, about one in five of all Australia's local councils.
Last week, The Weekly SOURCE reported the City of Greater Geelong is asking the Federal Government for more money to deliver in-home care after a community backlash when they announced plans to cease CHSP services.
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