The Federal Government is putting another $99.6 million into an expansion of the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP).
The expanded NACAP will improve access to face-to-face and virtual aged care advocacy by:
- Doubling the workforce to support more than 15,000 additional advocacy cases and adding more than 1,000 local networking and education sessions each year;
- New community advocacy activities, including increased capability for self-advocacy, home and community care vulnerability check-ins, and education around home care service costs;
- Support for aged care reform and emergencies, including extending COVID-19 response advocacy activities, and
- Education for providers to better understand the diversity of the community they are serving.
“The NACAP will continue to be provided by the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN), which delivers free, independent and confidential advocacy support and information to seniors and their families of choice or representatives,” said Senator Richard Colbeck, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services.
People in need of advocacy or information can contact an OPAN member organisation in their area on 1800 700 600 (free call), or via OPAN’s website.
Read SATURDAY magazine’s FEDERAL BUDGET issue with Senator Colbeck on the cover.
