Residential Care Grant Amendment Principles 1999 (No. 1)
I, Bronwyn Kathleen Bishop, Minister for Aged Care, make these principles under section 96-1 of the Aged Care Act 1997.
Dated 31 March 1999.
Bronwyn Bishop
Minister for Aged Care
Residential Care Grant Amendment Principles 1999 (No. 1) 1
made under the
Aged Care Act 1997
Contents
Page
1 Name of principles 2
2 Commencement 2
3 Amendment of Residential Care Grant Principles 1997 2
Schedule 1 Amendments 3
1 Name of principles
These principles are the Residential Care Grant Amendment Principles 1999 (No. 1).
2 Commencement
These principles commence on gazettal.
3 Amendment of Residential Care Grant Principles 1997
Schedule 1 amends the Residential Care Grant Principles 1997.
Schedule 1 Amendments
(section 3)
[1] Part 2
substitute
Part 2 Criteria for allocations
Division 1 Additional kind of people
20.4 Purpose of Division (Act, paragraph 72-2 (b))
This Division specifies an additional kind of people for the criteria for allocation of residential care grants.
20.5 Additional kind of people
People who are concessional or assisted residents in urban or regional areas (other than rural or remote areas) are specified.
Division 2 Other criteria
20.6 Purpose of Division (Act, paragraph 72-2 (c))
An allocation of a residential care grant to an approved provider must also meet the criteria mentioned in this Division.
20.7 Provider’s record
(1) The Secretary must be satisfied that an applicant who is, or has been, a provider of aged care must have a very good record of:
(a) conduct as such a provider; and
(b) compliance with its responsibilities as such a provider; and
(c) meeting its obligations arising from receipt of any payments from the Commonwealth for providing aged care.
(2) The reference to aged care includes a reference to any care for the aged, whether provided before or after the commencement of these principles, for which any payment was or is payable under a law of the Commonwealth.
[2] Part 3
substitute
Part 3 Meeting the needs of people with special needs
Division 1 Matters to be considered by the Secretary
20.7A Purpose of Division (Act, s 72-3)
This Division specifies the other matters that the Secretary must consider under paragraph 72-3 (1) (f) of the Act in deciding which allocation of residential care grants best meets the needs of people with special needs.
20.7B Assessment of benefit to current and future care recipients
(1) The Secretary must consider the extent to which current and future care recipients with special needs in the region will benefit if the grant is allocated.
Example
Examples of matters indicative of likely benefits for this section include:
(a) the extent to which the project would meet the needs of care recipients for a particular kind of service in the region, including:
- service for care recipients who are financially or socially disadvantaged
- service for care recipients affected by dementia
- service for care recipients belonging to an ethnic community
- service for care recipients belonging to an indigenous community
- ageing in place service
- service to meet the needs of couples; and
(b) the location of the service; and
(c) whether the project would offer the Commonwealth value for money; and
(d) whether the service offers high quality service; and
(e) whether the project includes innovations which would enhance service delivery or otherwise help the service to achieve improved levels of care.
(2) The Secretary must give priority to the applications that demonstrate the greater or greatest capacity to benefit current and future care recipients with special needs in the region.
20.7C Diversity of choice for care recipients
(1) The Secretary must consider the extent to which, if the grant is allocated, the project will increase diversity of choice for current and future care recipients with special needs, and their carers and families in relation to:
(a) the different kinds of provider in the region; or
(b) the different kinds of services offered in the region.
Example for paragraph (a)
Kinds of providers include those from the private sector and the religious and charitable sector.
Example for paragraph (b)
Diversity of choice for different kinds of services might be increased, for instance, in relation to:
- service for care recipients who are financially or socially disadvantaged
- service for care recipients affected by dementia
- service for care recipients belonging to an ethnic community
- service for care recipients belonging to an indigenous community
- ageing in place service
- service to meet the needs of couples.
(2) The Secretary must give priority to the applications that demonstrate the better or best capacity to offer diversity of choice for current and future care recipients with special needs in the region.
20.7D Continuity of care
(1) The Secretary must consider the extent to which, if the grant is allocated, the project will provide better access to continuity of care for current and future care recipients with special needs in the relevant aged care service or in the region generally, or both.
Example
For this section, examples of matters indicative of better access include:
(a) whether the service has demonstrated its long-term financial and organisational viability; and
(b) whether the application is in respect of places in a region which, at the time of consideration, has a low proportion of services certified under Part 2.6 of the Act; and
(c) any arrangements that have been made for the care of care recipients while the project is being carried out.
(2) The Secretary must give priority to the applications that demonstrate the better or best capacity to offer continuity of care for current and future care recipients with special needs in the region.
Division 2 Requirements to be complied with by the Secretary
20.7E Purpose of Division (Act, ss 72-3 (2))
This Division specifies requirements that the Secretary must comply with in considering matters specified under subsection 72-3 (1) of the Act in deciding which allocation of residential care grants best meets the needs of people with special needs.
20.7F Priority for certain residential care grants
(1) The Secretary must ensure, as far as practicable, that priority is given to grants for projects that meet the requirements of subsection (3), (4) or (5).
(2) Subsection (1) does not require the Secretary to allocate a grant to any approved provider.
(3) A project meets the requirements of this subsection if the project is to meet an urgent need for building, rebuilding, renovation or restoration work to be carried out:
(a) to meet Commonwealth, State or local government fire, safety, health or occupational health and safety standards; or
(b) because of fire, flood, earthquake or any other unforseen circumstance.
(4) A project meets the requirements of this subsection if the project is for services, or proposed services, in a rural or remote location.
(5) A project meets the requirements of this subsection if it is a project for which the proportion of care recipients who are concessional residents, assisted residents, or people with special needs, is higher than the proportion for similar projects that the Secretary is to consider at the same time.
Note
1. Made by the Minister for Aged Care on 31 March 1999.