National Health Reform Program

Transition of aged care and disability responsibilities

The new National Health Reform Agreement was finalised by the State, Territory and Commonwealth governments in August 2011.

As part of the reforms, the Commonwealth will be responsible for aged care services (for people aged 65 years and over; 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples); and the State for disability and community services (for those aged under 65 years; under 50 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples).

The State and the Commonwealth are working in partnership to align contracting processes and streamline systems. Key points are:

• Current service agreements with providers will remain in place until 30 June 2012; and
• Post-1 July 2012:
  • Services to existing clients will continue without disruption during the transition; and
  • The State will continue to contract with existing services providers who provide services to people under 65 years; under 50 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This will include services currently provided under the Home and Community Care (HACC) program. The state-based component of the current HACC program is referred to as Community Care. Disability and community care services are a continuum, ranging from low-intensity community care services through to specialist disability.

The department is implementing these changes through the National Health Reform Program, which comprises four main streams of work.

1. Cross-government consultation and collaboration
2. Home and Community Care (HACC) transition, focusing on separation of funding for aged and community care services and the issuing of new contracts for provision of community care services to clients under 65; under 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
3. Future disability and community care system, comprising:
   • Entry, assessment and referral – how people enter the disability and community care system and have their eligibility and needs assessed and
   • Community care service delivery – how the future disability and community care system will provide services to clients who are under 65; under 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
4. Improving the connections between health, community, aged care and disability service systems to provide timely and seamless services to clients.

More information

Broader information on the national health reforms in Queensland can be accessed from the health reform website.

Australia-wide information on HACC-related national health reforms can be accessed from the yourHealth website.