The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has told The Weekly SOURCE the final version of the Support at Home manual won't be released until September, three months later than previously expected.
"With the Australian Government's announcement that the start date of the new Aged Care Act 2024 will be briefly deferred, a final version of the program manual is now due to be released in September 2025," a spokesperson for the Department said.
The third version of the manual was released on 17 June, containing updates to starting funding for aged care services, care management, the AT-HM scheme, and interactions between Support at Home and other aged care programs. This was meant to be the final version, however, it still referred to information that is still being "finalised". The Weekly SOURCE identified 26 gaps in the report.
Tom Symondson (pictured above), CEO of Ageing Australia, the peak body for aged care providers, called for the manual to be released by 1 August to give operators enough time to prepare.
"Two months is simply not enough. Providers want this reform to work – that means we need at least 12 weeks.
“While providers’ preparations are underway based on draft rules, it’s not possible to finalise this preparation based on draft rules and manuals."
