One of the Counsel Assisting recommendations that seemed to receive very little media attention last week – despite its magnitude – was recommendation 9 for meeting preferences to age in place – specifically, that the Government should clear the home care package waiting list by immediately increasing the home care packages available and allocating a package to all people on the waiting list by 31 December 2021 – just 14 months away.
Can this goal be achieved however?
Home care providers tell us it will require a commitment from Government earlier than the May Budget or even the Final Report.
The deadline will be just 10 months by the time the Commissioners hand in their Final Report in late February.
Based on the 102,000 people currently on the list, the Government would need to roll out around 2,550 new packages a week to meet this timeline – excluding new entrants.
Considering the latest figures for the program show there were around 3,000 packages released a week in the June quarter, this would appear to possibly be feasible – notwithstanding the huge demand on the system.
Government warning of “shonky players” entering sector
But there are plenty of arguments that the Government would be able to use to avoid meeting this target.
The Aged Care Minister has previously stated the Government would never clear the waiting list because this would result in “shonky players” entering the market.
They could also argue that the release of 100,000 new packages could also see occupancy in residential care fall to new lows after already falling below a national average of 90% and threaten the viability of many services.
Concerns have also been raised by Government about the demand this would place on the system for workers.
Providers have previously indicated to us that a mass influx of Home Care Packages would not be a significant issue for their workforces who would be able to increase their hours to meet the additional demand.
$7 billion to just clear the wait list
There are also the costs involved.
As discussed in yesterday’s issue of The Daily RESOURCE, back-of-envelope calculations indicate around $7 billion will be needed to clear the waiting list – without accounting for new approvals.
Many home care providers also rely on immigration to supply new workers – and COVID has effectively turned off the tap.
We asked providers what they thought of the deadline.
Providers say early commitment needed for them to prepare
Paul Ostrowki (pictured), the CEO of home care provider Care Connect, agreed the target was ambitious – but says it is clear that the Commissioners are committed to clearing the wait list.
“Let’s be realistic, there is no way the Commissioners will step back from that commitment,” he said.
However, he says any announcement in the May Budget will not be enough time to prepare – and the Government should begin taking steps now to prepare to an increase in the number of Australians accessing home care in the future.
“Seven to eight months is too late. We need a statement of commitment much earlier so organisations can begin to prepare.”
Workforce Council requires more investment
He also dismisses the ‘shonky players’ argument, noting that the regulator can keep a lens on new providers.
Paul also says there needs to be much more investment provided to the Aged Care Workforce Council to tackle the challenge of attracting workers in a highly competitive environment including the issue of immigration.
“I commend the Royal Commission on recognising this and making it a front and centre statement,” he said.
“This is what older Australians want – the question is not whether we achieve this deadline, but how we achieve that deadline.”
Will the Government be prepared to meet this target however – or try to argue it can’t be done?
