Mildura Rural City Council will transition out of delivering Aged and Disability home support services, with the intention for this process to be completed by June 2023.
Councillors formalised the decision at Thursday’s Ordinary Council Meeting, following a three-month consultation period with staff, clients and the wider community.
Feedback was collected through client and staff surveys, online and in-person community forums and through Council’s online engagement platform ‘Your Say’.
Following this process, and further discussions with the Commonwealth and other providers, it was determined that due to the Commonwealth’s impending end to current Aged Care programs, and transition to a new model of care – Support at Home – it was not in the best interests of the community for Council to continue as an aged care provider.
This is mainly due to the new Support at Home model being geared towards choice for clients, and to private business offering Aged and Disability services rather than local government.
There will be NO IMMEDIATE CHANGE to service delivery. Council is committed to seeing out its existing contract with the Commonwealth which ends in June 2023.
Some smaller home care program clients may transition sooner. No changes will occur until a transition plan is negotiated with the Commonwealth and State Governments.
Council will work closely with the State and Commonwealth Governments to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible for clients. This includes creating an Aged Care Service Navigator position to support customers and community through the first 12 months of the new Support at Home Program.
