2007 Aged Care Approvals Round announced
The Minister for Ageing, Christopher Pyne, has announced 10,704 news aged care places around Australia for allocation in 2007-08 through the 2007 Aged Care Approvals Round. These have an estimated annual recurrent funding value of more than $330 million.
As part of this package, the Government’s planning benchmark has been increased from 108 to 113 places for every 1,000 people aged 70 years or over, with an increase in the community care component of this from 20 to 25 places.
The reform package also increases the investment in residential high care, including an additional $755 million in capital funding over four years, and increases the residential high-care ratio from 40 to 44 places for every 1,000 people aged 70 years or over.
Up to two-thirds of the more than 6,800 new residential places made available in the 2007 Round will be allocated as high-care places dependent on the Department receiving quality applications for high care places.
The closing date for applications for community care places will be mid to late May, while the closing date for residential places and capital grants will be early June.
The split round will allow early allocation of community care places in line with the Government’s commitment to expand community care. The later closing date for residential applications recognises the additional complexity of these applications.
Under the Retirement Village – Ageing in Place initiative, retirement village operators are encouraged to apply for community aged care places for their residents in the 2007 Aged Care Approvals Round, if necessary in partnership with organisations already providing such care. Operators will need to show that the village environment permits ageing-in-place, that continuity and quality of care are assured, and indicate what other benefits they can make available to residents.
For more information visit www.health.gov.au/acar2007
