About Community Aged Care Packages

Provides information on the support available to older Australians and their carers through Community Aged Care Packages.

In this section:

What are Community Aged Care Packages?

Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs) are individually planned and coordinated packages of care tailored to help older Australians remain living in their own homes. They are funded by the Australian Government to provide for the complex care needs of older people.

What help is available?

Community Aged Care Packages are very flexible and designed to help with individual care needs. The types of services that may be provided as part of a package include:

personal care;
social support;
transport to appointments;
home help;
meal preparation; and
gardening.

Who will provide the care?

The Australian Government provides CACP providers with a subsidy per package to supply and coordinate care services for older people. The individual services within a CACP may be provided by a variety of organisations in your local area, but will be coordinated and planned by the approved aged care service provider who receives the subsidy to care for the person receiving the CACP.

How can I access a CACP?

To receive a CACP, you must be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) as requiring at least low level care. ACAT assessments are free of charge. If CACPs are available in your area, you have been assessed as needing low level care, and expressed a preference to be cared for in your home, then you may be offered a CACP package of care.

Information on ACATs is available from doctors, hospitals and community centres or the Aged and Community Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 or Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres on Freecall 1800 052 222* (*mobile calls are charged at applicable rates).

How is a CACP arranged?

When a service provider accepts you, a package of services will be tailored to meet your needs as assessed by the ACAT. The service provider will discuss the options available for meeting your care needs and a plan of care will be agreed upon. You, your family or representatives have the right to negotiate with the provider on the types and levels of care to be provided. After you have agreed on your care, the service provider will give you a copy of your care plan setting out the services you will receive.

How much will I have to pay?

You can be asked to pay a fee for a Community Aged Care Package. The amount charged forms part of an agreement between yourself and the service provider.

For older people on the maximum basic rate of pension, fees must not exceed 17.5% of that pension. Accordingly, as at 20 September 2008, the maximum daily contribution for clients of Community Care Packages will be $6.78.

People on higher incomes* may be asked to pay additional fees (limited to 50% of any income above the maximum pension rate). The service provider must inform you of its fees policy. However, no one will be denied a service they need, based on an inability to pay fees.

*Income means income after tax and the Medicare levy.

What quality of service can I expect?

The Australian Government has specified Community Care Standards, which providers are legally required to meet to ensure care recipients receive care of the highest quality. Recipients of a CACP (or their representative) are entitled to:

quality services that meet their assessed needs;
where possible, their preferred level of social independence;
having their dignity and privacy respected at all times;
access information about the care options available and the facts they need to make informed choices;
access to details of the care being provided; and
take part in developing a package of services that best meets their needs.

What if I have a complaint?

If you, your family or your representatives are not happy with the service provided under a Community Aged Care Package, you have the right to complain. The Australian Government has put arrangements in place for people to do this. If talking to the service provider cannot solve the problem, the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme is available. This is a free service which is overseen by the Aged Care Commissioner.

The Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme can be contacted on 1800 550 552.

Recipients of a CACP, their family and their representatives are also entitled to access advocacy services. Advocacy services help people find out what they are entitled to.

For information on advocacy services, please contact the Aged and Community Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.

What is the subsidy rate for Community Aged Care Packages?

From 1 July 2008 the daily subsidy rate for a Community Aged Care Package is $34.75

Disclaimer: This document is only a guide to the Government’s law and policies, and cannot take account of individual circumstances. The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing recommends that you seek appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular situation. Because Government laws and policies change from time to time, please ensure you have the latest version of this document.

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