Message from the CEO
Welcome to our newsletter for 2023, Vol. 18, Issue 2.
Welcome to our March Newsletter. The aged care reforms continue and we are receiving many updates from the Government, the Department of Heath and Aged Care, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and our peak body the Aged and Community Care Providers Association.
The aim of the Government is to have reforms ready to be implemented in July 2024 and there is certainly much work to be done. ACS is well advanced in our preparedness to implement the changes when they are introduced and we will continue to inform our Elders of the changes and how they might impact Elders’ services.
Despite the aged care reforms, our staff continue to assist new Elders into aged care, especially in regional and remote locations where there is much demand for aged care services and supports. ACS is pleased to have opened our new office in Whyalla which will enable our staff to visit Elders on the Eyre Peninsula and the far West Coast.
ACS is now supporting over 900 Elders across South Australia with our aged care community services including Commonwealth Home Support Programme, Home Care Packages, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program—in-home services, as well as supporting Elders in residential aged care at the Aboriginal Elders Village and in Pukatja.
We know there are many older Aboriginal people in South Australia that are still not receiving the aged care services they are entitled to. Our staff will continue to work towards changing this issue.
ACS cannot achieve these great outcomes without our dedicated staff. The Board and management of ACS would like to acknowledge and thank all our staff located in various communities across the state for their continued support of our Elders and our organisation.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition of our newsletter.
– Graham Aitken
