Created 28 September 2020
Verso’s Managing Director, Doug Faircloth, says that the Australian Government is focusing on rural aged care in 2020-21. The time is ripe, he adds, for providers to consider their viability and the needs of their communities.
Regardless of the current pandemic and Royal Commission, operators of aged care need to continue to make decisions about their services. Indeed, for some it may be a matter of financial viability that demands that their facilities update and expand. The Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) creates an opportunity for providers to:
- Focus on the changing care needs of residents and how the facility can be developed or reconfigured to support needs
- Expand existing facilities in response to growing demand now and well into the future
Verso has had the opportunity to examine in detail the dynamics, issues and opportunities for providers of aged care in rural and remote Australia. The latest in a series of reports and research is our Older Persons Services and Accommodation Report prepared for Rural Councils Victoria. The report identifies considerable demand for residential aged care in a number of rural local government areas across Victoria. The report also highlights the very significant shortfall in older persons housing. The economic benefits of retaining and attracting older people are also discussed.
In rural Australia, communities consistently identify the strong desire for older people to remain in their community of choice. They clearly state that it is a human right to do so. Many aged care operators in rural; communities share this outlook and strive to provide high quality care in small communities. Scale, workforce and capital are often identified as issues that impact these operators.
Renewed government focus ahead of the ACAR
Verso has long been advocating for the Australian government to pay particular attention to rural aged care. Our most recent discussion with the Department of Health in May 2020 gleaned a strong acknowledgement of the needs of rural older Australians. The Department indicated an interest and familiarity with the very significant body of work Verso has developed regarding the needs and opportunities in rural Australia; a very positive sign in the light of the upcoming ACAR. We provided the Department with a selection of reports as requested, including our highly regarded Ageing in the Bush Report.
Providers of aged care in rural and remote areas can particularly benefit from the research and expertise offered by Verso.
We are happy to discuss your unique situation and develop a strategy grounded in evidence that will support a competitive, compelling and compliant ACAR application. For information about our process and prices, download our ACAR 2020 flyer.
Make your booking with us now. Email doug@verso.com.au or phone us on 1800 983 776.