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This agency accredits and supervises all commonwealth-funded residential aged care homes. A list of all accredited homes, reports on homes and information about aged care standards is available from their website.
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Assessment Teams (Aged Care Assessment Service [ACAS] in Victoria) can help people obtain a range of Commonwealth funded services to help them to continue living in their own home, or enter a residential care facility such as a nursing home or hostel. An ACAT is normally based at a hospital, geriatric centre or community centre. You can be seen at a hospital or at home. An ACAT might include a doctor, nurse, social worker, occupational therapist or physiotherapist. For more information on ACATs, a list of ACATs by state/territory and related matters:
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or Freecall the Aged Care National Information Line 1800 500 853
Aims to enhance the quality of life for older Australians through support for positive and healthy ageing and the provision of a cohesive framework for high quality and cost effective care services for frail older people and their carers. The site has detailed information on residential care, community care, fees and charges for users of aged and community care services, plus booklets, brochures and fact sheets for download.
For information on:
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Aged and Community Care Information Line Freecall Ph 1800 500 853
Translating and Interpreting Service Ph 13 14 50
For information on the Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme, click here or phone the Aged Care Complaints Resolution Line Freecall 1800 550 552
If you are concerned about the way your complaint is being handled you can contact the Office of the Commissioner for Complaints.
Freecall 1800 500 294
Previously known as the Department of Health And Aged Care (HAAC), check the Department of Health and Ageing for information on the following services:
Health and Ageing State/Territory Offices:
If you live in a metropolitan area use the first number below. If you live in country areas use the 1800 Freecall number:| Central Office - Canberra | (02) 6289 1555 | 1800 020 103 |
| A.C.T | (02) 6274 5111 | 1800 020 102 |
| New South Wales | (02) 9263 3555 | 1800 048 998 |
| Northern Territory | (08) 8946 3444 | |
| Queensland | (07) 3360 2555 | 1800 177 099 |
| North Queensland | (07) 4727 2289 | |
| South Australia | (08) 8237 8111 | 1800 188 098 |
| Tasmania | (03) 6221 1411 | 1800 005 119 |
| Victoria | (03) 9665 8888 | 1800 020 103 |
| Western Australia | (08) 9346 5111 | 1800 198 008 |
Also, check the ‘Age Page’ of the Community Services section of your local telephone directory for many useful contact phone numbers. Your local council’s web site may have information on community centres and contacts. See the list of councils here:
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New initiatives have been introduced by the Rudd Government which are aimed at making life a little easier for those diagnosed with cancer.
MRI rebate
More than 5,000 Australians are diagnosed with rectal cancer each year. MRI scan are used in the initial stages of deciding which treatment is best for each case of rectal cancer and a new Medicare rebate will help with the costs of such scans. Based on a schedule fee of $403.20, outpatients will get a rebate of $342.75 and inpatients will receive a rebate of $302.40.
PBS listing
Used in the treatment of bowel cancer, bevacizumab (Avastin) is now available on the Pharmaceutical benefit Scheme (PBS). The drug controls symptoms of bowel cancer and has been shown to prolong life. In the first year of Avastin being available on the PBS, around 1,700 Australians will begin using the drug for treatment of bowel cancer.
PET Services
Used for medical imaging to assist clinical decision on the treatment of previously diagnosed cancer, Positron Emission Tomography (PET), is now eligible for a Medicare rebate.
For more information on these new initiatives, visit the Department of Health and Ageing
Finding the right information you need to stay in your own home or get the care you need can be time consuming and confusing. Commonwealth Carelink Centres offer a one-stop shop for those who need a little extra help.
Commonwealth Carelink Centres provide free and confidential information to carers, people with disabilities and older people, who need assistance with finding out what services are available to them locally. There are 65 walk-in centres throughout Australia, many located within shopping centres, making them easily accessible.
If physically getting to a centre proves difficult, you can contact them on a freecall number, 1800 052 222, where you can speak to someone regarding your own personal issue. You can also search online for services in your area. For more information, or to find services in your area, visit Commonwealth Carelink Centres.
Staying at home is important to many Australians as they get older, feeling comfortable and settled in their own home can help them ward off illness. Recognising this, the Home and Community Care (HACC) program is there to provide assistance.
No-one doubts the excellent work undertaken by the majority of doctors, nurses and healthcare professional but some may have an opinion on how the system can work better.
Primary care is in need of a reform due to many factors but most importantly:
• Australia’s ageing population
• The burden of chronic disease and the need to focus on prevention
• Skills shortage
• The growth in the divide between those who have access to good primary health care and those who don’t
A discussion paper has been released which outlines directions for reform and proposes ten key elements of providing a better primary care system. Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, has called for public submissions in response to the discussion paper.
Those with an interest in primary health care can make a submission, in writing or by email, until 27 February 2009, and the discussion paper, Towards a National Primary Health Care Strategy, can be downloaded from the Department of Health and Ageing’s website.
A new Charter of Rights being developed by the Federal Government will give a greater say in the provision of services to the 56,000 older Australians receiving home care.
Announced by the Minister of Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot, the charter will be developed with consultation with consumers, aged care providers and other interested parties. Formal consultation began, yesterday, 13 October 2008 at the Ageing Consultative Committee in Canberra, with a draft Community Care Charter being tabled.
Currently the Australian Government funds three care packages, these are:
• Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs), which provides support services for older people who would otherwise require low-level residential aged care;
• Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH), for people who need high-level care; and
• the specialised Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia packages (EACH Dementia), which provide the equivalent of high-level residential care in the home for people with dementia.
The draft Community Care Charter details the rights of community care service recipients. Once fully developed, the charter would be provided to each recipient when their care package is being negotiated, giving them a greater say in the service they receive.
For more information, visit the Department of Health and Ageing.
Living with dementia is hard on those who suffer from it and those who care for them. A new government resource is aimed at helping sufferers and carers improve their quality of life.
The Dementia Resource Guide provides links to resources covering 17 topics, including assessment and diagnosis, medical treatment and support services. Launched by the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, the guide will provide information for sufferers, carers and families, volunteers and staff providing care and support.
The guide was developed by a research team at the National Ageing Research Institute, with funding through the Australian Government via the Dementia Initiative. The funding is part of the $320 million committed by the Australian Government for dementia research and support over the next five years.
There are 200,000 Australians affected by dementia and with the country’s ageing population, this is expected to more than double over the next 20 years. In putting together a list of the best resources available, over 700 were reviewed by the research team.
Download The Dementia Resource Guide
or request a CD rom copy by contacting . You can also access The National Dementia Helpline and Referral Service by contacting 1800 100 500, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Where you live can dictate how long you live, according to new statistical data from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). With a life expectancy of 81.4 years, Australia has one of the longest life expectancies in the world.
Overall, Australia comes second only to Japan, with Australian men now living longer than Japanese men do for the first time ever. The Sunshine Coast tops the chart for women, with life expectancy in this area reaching 84.7 years, closely followed by country WA at 84.6 and Perth at 84.4 years. Men it seems are more suited to city life, with Melbourne and Canberra topping the chart at 80 years of age.
As far as cities go, Perth is top for longer living, closely followed by Melbourne and Sydney.
With over 2.8 million Australians aged 65 and over, and 2,800 of them over 100 years old, Australia is an ageing nation. Over the next four years, the Australian Government will increase the level of funding for aged and community care to more than $40 billion.
Visit the Australian Government’s website for more information on who lives longer where, and what their plans are to support Australia’s ageing population.
Actor Noeline Brown has been appointed as Ambassador for Ageing, to promote positive ageing, a pre-election promise given by the Labor Government.
Noeline turns 70 this October, and is already active in promoting healthy ageing to clubs and volunteer groups throughout Australia.
Some of the functions and responsibilities undertaken by the Ambassador will be:
promoting internationally recognised principles of positive and active ageing
promoting healthy and active ageing messages within the community
leading promotional activities to ensure our communities value and respect older people;
being spokesperson for respecting and recognising the continuing contribution made by older people to our nation;
explaining Government programs and initiatives to the public including assisting older people to be aware of programs and how to access them; and
encouraging older people to plan for the future;
representing the Australian Government at conferences, meetings and media engagements; and
attending meetings with key Commonwealth, State and local government stakeholders on positive ageing issues
For more information on the role to be undertaken by Noeline and information on Noeline herself, click here
The Commonwealth Government has announced plans for a new mobile Rapid Response Team in a bid to reduce waiting times for Australians needing assessment for government funded aged care.
Moving from your own home into aged care facilities is traumatic enough without the current excessive wait for an individual’s need to be assessed. A pilot program costing $250,000 has been created. The aim is to utilise mobile Rapid Response Teams to reduce the current waiting times for assessment, which can be up to be up to 13 months in some areas. The initial areas to be targeted are far north NSW and north Sydney, then moving to other priority areas across Australia.
The pilot is part of a $1million boost to speed up the assessment process for older Australians, and therefore making the process less frustrating. The team will be lead by an experienced assessment team manager with a nursing background and who is supported by aged care experts and allied health workers. The program follows a meeting earlier this month between Justine Elliot, Minister for Ageing and Reba Meagher, NSW Health Minister to discuss the issue, and will form the first part of the Labor Government’s response to a national review of Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATS).
Based on the recommendations of this review, an implementation plan is being developed in consultation with state and territory governments. Recommendations being adopted include:
· Improve the way people are prioritised for assessment;
· Improve public awareness of the role of ACATS and how to gain access to them;
· Reduce administrative burdens on the teams so they can put patient solutions first;
· Increased information sharing and networking between teams around the country;
· A national training strategy for ACATS; and
· Nationally consistent performance benchmarks.
The next stage will be the deployment of more aged care assessors to assist with the backlog.
To view the report of the National Review of Aged Care Assessment Teams, click here.
The medical services of the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) provide health care and referrals. The OATSIH website also provides a national mechanism for people across the country to share information on successful approaches to achieving better health among Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Additionally it has links to other relevant sites.
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A carer is a person who, through family relationship or friendship, looks after a frail older person or someone with a disability or chronic illness. The Australian Government has a range of programs and initiatives which support carers. For information on these programs and initiatives:
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Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres - a specialised contact point for carers who need a 'helping hand.' The Centres coordinate access to respite services in your local area. There may also be a need for residential respite on a planned or emergency basis to help with carer stress, illness, holidays, or the unavailability of the carer for any reason. Check the website for centre locations and other information.
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Phone 1800 059 059
The Commonwealth Carer Resource Centres are funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and form part of the National Respite for Carers Program. The Commonwealth Carer Resource Centres located in each State and Territory act as a centralised contact point to improve carers ability to gain access to information and advice, counselling and Referral Line.
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See also Carers Australia.
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The aim of Community Care is to help the frail aged and people with a disability live independently in their homes as long as possible, to support their carers in their caring role and to improve the general health and well-being of older Australians. For more information on community care services which may be able to help you to stay at home:
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Community Aged Care Packages (CACP) are a key element in ensuring that staying at home rather than entering residential care is a real option for those older Australians who choose to do so. Older people must first be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (this is free) and if accepted for a aged care package will be charged a fee.
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Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) program provides an option for older people with high and complex care needs to be supported in their own homes. ACAT assessment is a prerequisite.
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Commonwealth Carelink Centres provide information to older Australians, people with disabilities, their families, carers, general practitioners, other health professionals or anyone else who needs reliable information and guidance about community care services and aged care homes available in the local community. The service is free and confidential. Anyone can visit a Commonwealth Carelink Centre or get the information they need from the website or by phone. The website provides information about the service and has a list of the Centre shopfront locations.
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Commonwealth Carelink Centres: Freecall 1800 052 222
The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Limited (known also as the Aged Care Standards Agency, or just the Agency) ACSAB is an independent company established by the Australian Government as the accreditation body for residential aged care service under the Aged Care Act 1997.
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The Office of Rural Health (ORH) is part of Health and Ageing. It has responsibility for advising on general rural health strategies and for delivering a range of targeted activities to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians living in regional, rural and remote localities. The office provides information about rural health issues, programs and services.
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Rural Health National Enquiry Freecall Line: 1800 020 787
Residential Aged Care is available for older people who cannot live at home. They must be assessed by an ACAT as needing this care. There are two levels of residential care: low level (hostel) services, and high level (nursing home) services. Find out more:
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The Community Visitors Scheme provides a regular friendly visiting scheme for people in aged care homes who are isolated or lonely. Funded by the Australian Government, community-based organisations operate the Scheme in all States and Territories. Staff in aged care homes can assist in putting residents in contact with a visitor. If you wish to be a volunteer visitor or you know someone who would benefit from a visit, contact your local Commonwealth Carelink Centre.
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Freecall 1800 052 222.
There is a wealth of information here - see the Research and Data page for links to a collection of research projects undertaken relevant to population ageing, health and well-being and to statistical information on population ageing, plus much more including work and later life planning, and positive and healthy ageing.
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The Mental Health and Special Programs Branch coordinates work covering the National Mental Health Strategy, National Suicide Prevention Strategy and Special Access Programs such as trauma and palliative care. The website has information and brochures on its areas of involvement for consumers, carers and families, the health sector and for education and the media.
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The National Influenza Vaccine Program for Older Australians provides free flu vaccine to all Australians aged 65 and older. If you are under 65 the vaccine is available on prescription. Note that while the vaccine will be provided at no cost a consultation fee may be payable to GPs who do not bulk bill.
Immunise Australia Program
The pneumococcal vaccine to help prevent pneumonia is also available free to those aged 65 and over. The vaccine is effective for five years after which you need to get another shot.
The National Indigenous Pneumococcal and Influenza Immunisation Program provides both the influenza vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine free to all Indigenous people over 50 years, and to Indigenous people in the 15-50 year age group who are in high risk groups.
Pensioners, part pensioners and eligible veterans, among others, benefit from a subsidised Hearing Services Program. They can obtain help for hearing problems by applying to the Office of Hearing Services for a hearing services voucher. This program offers the following free services:
Medicare Australia provides medical assistance for all Australians. Vist the web site for information on Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) including the PBS Safety Net, the safety net for medical costs (Medicare Safety Net), the concession card, plus locations of all Medicare offices. Medicare also implements the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and the Australian Organ Donor Register.
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Check our page How many ways are there to claim Medicare benefits? for the different ways you can make a claim.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) - The Australian Government subsidises the cost of many prescription medicines and all Australian residents are eligible for the subsidy. The medicines cost up to $23.70 for general patients or $3.80 for concession card holders, as at 1 January 2004. (Some alternative brands may cost more.) You have to show your Medicare card or Veterans Repatriation Health card to the pharmacist when you have a prescription filled (the pharmacist can record the number so you don’t have to show it every time).
As a concession card holder, when you and your family have a record of 52 prescriptions on PBS medicines in a calendar year (that’s $197.60 you and your family have spent) you can get a PBS Safety Net Entitlement Card from your pharmacist and further PBS medicines will be free for the rest of the year. If you are not a concession card holder, when you and your family have spent $726.80 you can get a Safety Net Concession Card and further PBS medicines will cost $3.80 for the rest of the calendar year. ( Figures are normally adjusted annually on 1 January. On 1 January 2005, PBS medicines will rise to $28.60 and concession card holders will pay $4.60.) For more consumer information on the PBS:
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The Medicare Safety Net protects you and your family against high medical costs. The difference between the Medicare reimbursement for out-of-hospital services and the Schedule fee is the ‘gap’. If in any one calendar year the gap exceeds $328.00 (adjusted for inflation 1 November each year) you become eligible for the Medicare Safety Net. Then the Medicare benefits will increase to the Schedule fee for the rest of the year. For more information see the HIC safety nets page:
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For further information on fees, patient contributions, benefit items and safety net thresholds Freecall 1800 020 613
TTY (for hearing impaired) Freecall 1800 552 152
Translator/interpreter 13 14 50
Medicare, including information on making claims, location of Medicare offices, and more.
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Phone 13 20 11
TTY (for hearing impaired) 1800 552 152
Translator/interpreter 13 14 50
Note: If you live in a rural or remote area you can make a Medicare claim by phone: 1300 360 460
Medicare benefits are available for a voluntary annual health assessment for people aged 75 years and over (55 years and over for indigenous people). There are also benefits for care planning and case conferencing services for people of any age with chronic illnesses and complex care needs.
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The Pharmaceutical Allowance helps you buy prescription medicines available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. It is a non-taxable payment of $5.80 a fortnight for single and $2.90 a fortnight for each eligible member of a couple ($5.80 combined) which is included in your pension, part pension, Veterans’ Affairs benefit, allowance or other benefit payment. For more information on the Pharmaceutical Allowance:
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Domiciliary Nursing Care Benefit (DNCB)
Phone 02 9263 3555
This is an Australian Government initiative. It aims to improve the health of Australians by providing a single entry point with to quality information from leading health information providers, including peak health organisations, government agencies and educational and research institutions. There is a very comprehensive and expanding resource of up-to-date information on many important health topics such as diabetes, cancer, mental health, hypertension and asthma. Grouping is by lifestyle, conditions and diseases, life stages and events, population groups, including ‘Ageing and Retirement’, ‘Men’s Health’ and ‘Women’s Health’, plus a good deal more.
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