Attendant Care Program
The Attendant Care Program (ACP) provides portable, flexible and individualised support for people:
- with a physical disability and/or
- who need personal help to complete activities of daily living.
Who is eligible?
You may be eligible for an ACP package if you are:
- between 16 and 65 years old
- living in your own home, family home or in leased accommodation where you are managing the lease (people living and intending to continue living in supported accommodation such as group homes or residential care facilities are not eligible)
- able to live in the community with a capped number of personal assistance service hours per week and access community support
- ineligible for, or unlikely to be a priority for other ADHC provided or funded accommodation services in the short to medium term.
An ACP package is a suitable option for people with:
- a physical disability whose needs can be met with personal care support and who can be involved in managing their care; or
- an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and a physical disability (or who need physical assistance to complete tasks of daily living); or
- a neurological degenerative condition including rapidly degenerative condition
- ventilation dependency (over 24 hours) in which case the package may be jointly funded and managed with NSW Health.
Being eligible does not guarantee you will receive a service. Places are limited and priority is based on need.
How to apply
To apply, you need to complete the Attendant Care Program and High Need Pool application form (PDF).
Applications are accepted directly by our Attendant Care and Physical Disability Unit.
An application register is maintained when there are more eligible applicants than places.
If you have a rapidly degenerative condition such as Motor Neurone Disease please complete the rapidly degenerative checklist (PDF) and return along with the application form.
ACP guidelines and procedures
ACP Guidelines (PDF) and ACP Procedures for service users (PDF) have been developed to inform people in the Attendant Care Program about their rights and responsibilities and how the program operates.
Fact sheets
The following fact sheets are also available:
Choosing a service provider
Once you have been approved for an ACP package, you need to choose a funding model and a service provider (unless you choose the Direct Funding model). The ACP service provider list provides a list of approved service providers by Local Planning Area.
If you do not know which Local Planning Area (LPA) you live in, you can look up your LPA here.
Funding models
An Attendant Care package can operate under three different funding models, which determine the level of involvement the person with disability has in managing and administering their care.
Employer Model
Funds are paid to an approved service provider who employs the attendant carers and is accountable to ADHC for expenditure and service quality. Clients can be involved in the selection, rostering and management of attendant carers to different degrees.
Cooperative Model
Funds are paid to an approved service provider who manages the funds, provides administrative support and is accountable to ADHC for expenditure and service quality. Clients can employ their attendant carers and are responsible for managing their services.
Direct Funding Model
Funds are paid directly to the client who is responsible for employing their own care workers or purchasing approved services and managing their care. Clients take on the full employer/service provider responsibility and are accountable to ADHC for expenditure and service quality under a Funding Agreement. Refer to the ACP direct funding model fact sheet (PDF), Receiving Services under the ACP Direct Funding Model (PDF) or the ACP direct funding model guidelines (PDF) for more information.
The Direct Funding Model commenced as a Pilot Project in 2006 and has been an ongoing funding model within the Attendant Care Program since mid 2008. For information on the outcomes of the Pilot Project, refer to the Evaluation Report by the Social Policy Research Centre.
On 18 January 2012, Dr Robert Zoa Manga hosted a consultation session with Andrew Constance, NSW Minister for Ageing and Minister for Disability Services, and participants of the Attendant Care Program (ACP) Direct Funding Model (DFM). The Minister was seeking feedback from the participants on their unique experiences as directly funded clients and their recommendations regarding the future of direct funding in NSW. Refer to the consultation session summary (PDF) for an overview of the main discussion points.
Direct employment
Under the Attendant Care Program (ACP) Direct Funding Model (DFM) the person with disability has the option of employing their own care workers directly or purchasing services from an agency. Under the direct employment option, the person with disability agrees to take on employer responsibilities and comply with all applicable legislation.
One of the key pieces of legislation that direct employers need to comply with is the Fair Work Act 2009 and supplementary regulations. To assist direct employers to understand their key industrial obligations, Ageing, Disability & Home Care (ADHC) recently arranged for the Fair Work Ombudsman to deliver a tailored ‘webinar’ on the key features of the Fair Work System.
Direct Funding Model Advisory Service
Following the Ministerial consultation session in January 2012, the Direct Funding Model (DFM) Advisory Service was established with the objective of promoting, enhancing and streamlining direct funding and direct employment arrangements in NSW.
The Advisory Service is comprised of current DFM participants that have experience in the administration of their own care and funding arrangements.
The Advisory Service is independent from Ageing, Disability & Home Care (ADHC) and has a number of key functions, including the provision of advice and recommendations to ADHC on policy, guidelines, procedures and resources that impact on direct funding and direct employment arrangements in NSW.
All DFM participants can raise issues for discussion and analysis by the Advisory Service by submitting an email to DFMAdvisory@facs.nsw.gov.au.
Amendment to ACP Direct Funding Model Guidelines
Following the recent consultation session with the ACP Direct Funding Model clients, the Attendant Care & Physical Disability Unit (ACPDU) initiated a review of the acquittal procedures and rules relating to the retention of surplus funds. In line with the feedback received, the ACPDU has implemented a series of amendments to the Guidelines that allow for greater flexibility under the Model. Refer to the Acquittal Arrangements and Delivery of Additional Hours under the Attendant Care Program Direct Funding Model fact sheet (PDF) for additional information.
Service Review
The Attendant Care Program Service Review Policy (PDF) outlines the process to regularly review ACP services to ensure that they are responsive to the needs of the person with disability and delivered in line with the ACP guidelines. The policy also explains when a service may be discontinued.
For more information
For further information about the Attendant Care Program, contact our Attendant Care and Physical Disability Unit.
Mailing address:
Attendant Care & Physical Disability Unit
Ageing Disability & Home Care
Level 5, 83 Clarence Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02)9374 3612
Fax: (02)9374 3677
Email address: hnpacp@facs.nsw.gov.au