Under the August 2011 national health reform package, the NSW Government endorsed a National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) with the Commonwealth Government and other States and Territories. Under the NHRA and associated National Partnership Agreement on Transitioning Responsibilities for Aged Care and  Disability Services, NSW has agreed to a split of responsibilities at age 65 (50 for Indigenous Australians) from 1 July 2011, for aged care and disability programs, including the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program.

The Commonwealth will assume full funding and operational responsibility for aged care services from 1 July 2012 and has committed to not substantially altering service delivery mechanisms before 1 July 2015. The NSW Government is working with the Commonwealth to ensure minimal disruption to clients and existing  providers, and real improvements for clients and carers across the state.

In 2010 ADHC engaged Aged and Community Services Association of NSW and  ACT Inc (ACS) to lead a state-wide consultation strategy with HACC stakeholders  around the COAG reforms. ACS facilitated 17 consultations across NSW with more than 850 people from a range of HACC funded organisations, peak bodies and other key stakeholders. ACS has prepared a report that provides details about the issues and opportunities raised by the sector around the aged care and  disability reforms. Electronic copies of this report are available upon request from coagreforms@facs.nsw.gov.au

• Fact sheet 1 - COAG Age Split Outcome - Impact on NSW HACC Services (PDF)
• Fact sheet 2 - Transition and Planning for NSW Services (PDF)
• Fact sheet 3 - COAG Reforms - Update on Transition Arrangements (PDF)
• Fact sheet 4 - National Health Reform Package: Next Steps for the NSW HACC Program
  

For further enquires, please contact coagreforms@facs.nsw.gov.au.