Local govt claims victory for HACC services in Vic
The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has announced that it has been told current Home and Community Care (HACC) service providers, including local government, would continue and there would be no requirement for competitive tendering, under the Federal Government’s takeover of aged care services from the states.
This had raised fears local control would be eroded.
The HACC system had been part of intense negotiations between the Federal and state governments in the over a shake-up of the hospital and health care systems.
MAV chief executive, Rob Spence, said the aged-care takeover push had reappeared on the Federal agenda last week.
The Minister for Ageing wrote to local government officials prior to the COAG meeting, saying that as part of the Federal takeover of policy and funding responsibilities for aged care, the government “recognises the long and distinguished role that local government has played in Victoria in the delivery of home and community services. The government will not put this role at risk.”
“The MAV now proposes to continue discussions on the establishment of a more detailed tripartite agreement for Victoria in relation to HACC services,” said Mr Spence.
Australian Services Union branch secretary, Brian Parkinson, said the decision to leave Victorian HACC services in place was a victory for those employed in the sector and for people receiving care.
“We have said it many times before; we believe Victoria’s current HACC arrangement is the best in the country,” he said.
