$440m more to be spent on the Support at Home package for aged-care access

The Albanese government is committing $440m to boost culturally appropriate aged-care services for First Nations people and enhance the Commonwealth Home Support Program.

Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells during question time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Albanese government is set to spend an Extra $440m to address increased demand for aged-care services, specifically target­ing regional and remote areas and First Nations communities.

The funding boost, under the Commonwealth Home Support Program, is on top of the $4.3bn Support at Home package announced by the government in September.

One of the key purposes of the grant is to “expand culturally appropriate CHSP services to older First Nations people” as part of the “government’s commitment to Closing the Gap and ensuring culturally safe and trauma informed aged care,” Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said.

The other is to improve access to domestic assistance, allied health and therapy, community transport and home maintenance.

This comes following backlash after Labor announced last week that reforms to homecare systems for elderly Australians were being delayed by 12 months, bowing to pressure from providers that said “a lack of lead time” meant they would be unable to meet mandated ­requirements.

Some 116 new CHSP providers, including 18 First Nations organisations, have been offered contracts from November to provide extra services, improve access to domestic assistance and expand “culturally appropriate services” to First Nations people.

The government will also provide another $10m for CHSP providers to transition their IT systems to comply with the new Aged Care Act starting next July.

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney said “older Australians made this country what it is and it’s our turn to give back to them”.

“Historically, we know there have been gaps in the provision of culturally appropriate aged-care services. This investment demonstrates this government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring aged-care service provision is holistic, safe and inclusive,” she said.

Broken promises had previously led to set cost for services such as gardening and cleaning to be delayed, despite industry professionals recommending it as a necessary safeguard. This was welcomed by Support at Home providers, some of which pressured the government to delay changes in the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority’s public consultation.

Bolton Clarke chief executive Stephen Muggleton said to the Australian Ageing Agenda last week that the staged approach was a “sensible move,” and the free market was best for consumers as “choice and competition will continue to be the strongest source of consumer protection”.

Council of the Ageing acting chief executive Corey Irlam told The Australian last week that the elderly needed “strong consumer protections” to ensure they weren’t paying too much for ­services.

“The federal government has a responsibility to keep its promise to older people and their families and actively monitor aged-care providers to ensure their prices are fair,” he said.