The Community Care Common Standards (Common Standards) have been developed jointly by the Australian Government and State and Territory Governments. The Common Standards are one part of a series of broader community care reforms across Home and Community Care (HACC) and other Australian Government community aged care programs.

What is the purpose of the Common Standards?

The Common Standards have been developed to simplify and streamline the reporting requirements on service providers that receive funding for community care programs from both State and Australian Government departments.

The Common Standards will replace the National HACC Standards.

What do the Common Standards cover?

There are three Common Standards:

1. Effective management
2. Appropriate access and service delivery
3. Service user rights and responsibilities

Each Standard is underpinned by a number of Expected Outcomes.

Community Care Common Standards Diagram (PDF)

A Community Care Common Standards Guide has been produced to support service providers in responding to the requirements of the Common Standards.

When will the Common Standards apply?

The Common Standards came into effect on 1 March 2011.

Who do the Common Standards apply to?

The Common Standards apply to all service providers delivering community care programs to older people, including providers funded under the following programs:

• Home and Community Care (HACC)
• Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH)
• Extended Aged Care at Home – Dementia (EACH-D)
• National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP)
• Community Aged Care Program (CACP)

All HACC service providers are expected to comply with the Common Standards from 1 March 2011.

How will HACC funded service providers be monitored?

ADHC will maintain responsibility for monitoring HACC providers against the CCCS until the HACC transition of aged services to the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) becomes effective on 1 July 2012.

Aged and Community Services of NSW & ACT (ACS) has been engaged by ADHC to assist service providers through the Quality Review process, specifically in relation to completing the self-assessment.

ADHC will be working closely with DoHA and ACS to commence the Quality Review process with service providers, which includes completing the self-assessment, an on-site visit to complete a Quality Review Report and the development of an Improvement Plan. It is anticipated the Quality Review process will take up to 20 weeks to complete.

In the instance that a service receives both HACC and DoHA funding to deliver community aged care programs, ADHC will be arranging joint monitoring with DoHA for these service providers.

Where can I find out more information?

You can find out more information about the Common Standards and download the Common Standards Guide at the Department of Health and Ageing website.