Controversy over how the Department of Health is tackling the issues Aged Care faces continues this week, as further outsourcing projects with the aim to help improve the service have been revealed. The Australian Ageing Agenda (AAA) have discovered several projects now authorised by the Department of Health are currently in effect, which includes:
A $990,000 tender to Ernst & Young for an “Aged Care Funding Instrument Audit Consultancy’ to take place from the 12th January 2017 to the 30th June 2019.
A $205,084 tender to Applied Aged Care Solutions for “the provision of a review of the Aged Care Funding Agreement” to take place from 10th February 2017 and the 24th April 2017.
A $50,000 tender to Matthew Pegg Consulting for the “provision of legal services on Aged Care Funding Instrument policy development” to take place from the 30th January 2017 to June 2017.
Outsourcing earlier this year
This marks the fourth Aged Care analysis to be outsourced this year, with the first being awarded to Deloitte Access Economics, which were given a $366,700 tender to provide an “analysis of unmet demand and the potential implications of uncapping supply in aged care”.
While outsourcing can have its benefits, such as the ability to tap into new knowledge bases for greater innovation, many people are worried that the length of time required, as well as the large sums of money, could better be used in-house.
Department of Health remains confident
But the Department of Health is confident that these outsource projects will benefit and improve the Aged Care system. At a hearing on Wednesday, Dr Nick Hartland, first assistant secretary of the aged care policy and regulation defended the decision to outsource analyses, claiming they needed people who were “fresh to the system”.
“It was about getting different perspectives and a range of these studies are quite complex; they involve looking at the population surveys”.
Helen Polley, the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care, was also questioned on Wednesday. She stated that external firms were chosen to provide “expertise” that the department itself could not currently provide, as well as unique insights into various long-standing issues.
What is outsourcing?
Outsourcing is the process in which a company assigns various processes to an external agency rather than performing these processes themselves. This can be done by companies for a variety of reasons. For example, a company creating products for sale may wish to outsource its production to reduce labour costs involved.
But not all outsourcing involves physical labour. Some companies may wish to outsource to external firms to help drive innovation. A company may be looking to create a unique new product for its customers but are struggling with ideas. Outsourcing analyses to firms to help innovate may provide what they need to gain an edge over their competitors.
However, companies, such as governments, may wish to outsource analyses to attempt to provide new insights and answers to problems that the country may currently be facing.
Dementia Caring is a business dedicated to helping those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s their committed team are experts in their respective fields, able to tailor packages to meet your specific needs. For your free needs assessment, get in touch with them today.
The Albanese Labor Government has introduced a landmark Aged Care Bill, marking a once-in-a-generation reform to prioritise the rights, safety and dignity of older Australians.
From 1 July 2025, the new Aged Care Act will bring significant changes, including:
-Tougher regulatory standards to ensure higher
accountability
-Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards for improved
care delivery
-A dedicated Statement of Rights for older Australians
-A $4.3 billion Support at Home program to help seniors live independently at home for longer
These reforms align with the Royal Commission’s recommendations, focusing on better complaint handling, greater participant choice, improved funding and enhanced fairness and quality across the sector.
If you’d like to learn more about how these changes impact you or your loved ones, Home Caring can guide you through the details. Please call us on 1300 875 377 for personalised support and assistance.
Read more 📱- health.gov.au/aged-care-act
#AgedCareReforms #SupportingOlderAustralians #australianhealthandagedcare #AHAC
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Even as we head into the final month of the year our incredible Home Caring teams show no signs of slowing down! Fueled by their passion for helping others they’ve been working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of our clients. Last weekend our Home Caring Vermont HomeCaring Narre Warren Home Caring Footscray HomeCaring Mornington Peninsula Home Caring St Albans Eltham and Bellarine teams all came together to showcase their dedication and expertise at the Melbourne Disability Expo.
The expo was an amazing opportunity for our teams to connect with the local community, meet new faces and raise awareness about the vital work we do. From sharing insights into our services to forming meaningful connections all of our Melbourne teams went above and beyond to make the event a resounding success. It’s clear that when you’re passionate about your work, it never feels like a job – and this passion was on full display throughout the weekend. A big thank you to everyone involved for representing Home Caring with such heart and dedication! 🩵
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Happy Friday HC fam!
It’s been a busy and productive week here at Home Caring with only forty days till the end of the year we are full steam ahead! One highlight was the team-building and networking session with our amazing Home Caring Bankstown team. The workshop was a huge success bringing everyone together to learn, grow and strengthen our skills.
These sessions are such a valuable part of what we do as they foster connection, build efficiency and empower us to deliver the best care to our clients. As we all know being a support worker can sometimes feel isolating but moments like these remind us of the incredible community we’re all a part of.
Let’s all carry that energy into the weekend—it’s going to be a hot one, so stay cool and take care! 🩵
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Happy Sunday HC fam! Recently our Home Caring Vermont team had the privilege of attending the 20th anniversary celebration of Hope City Mission, a vital organisation making a profound difference in our community. As proud sponsors we deeply admire their unwavering dedication to providing food relief, support and hope to those in need. Hope City Mission’s initiatives extend far and wide from their compassionate crisis support programs to sustainable efforts like planting seedlings, whose produce directly benefits people facing hardship. It’s a joy to stand beside them in their mission to uplift lives and foster resilience.
Our sponsorship reflects Home Caring’s core value of giving without expecting anything in return. We’re thrilled to have contributed to initiatives like installing a sprinkler system to nurture their community garden, where fresh produce is grown for those living in crisis. Supporting Hope City Mission means investing in kindness, growth and care and we couldn’t be prouder to play a part in their incredible journey. Here’s to creating positive change together! 🩵
#happysunday #welovewecare
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