Tuesday January 14, 2025

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (DOHAC) has introduced a unified aged care assessment system to streamline and replace existing programs, including the Regional Assessment Service (RAS), Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS), and the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) assessment programs.

This streamlined system will provide aged care needs assessments (encompassing home support assessments and comprehensive assessments) and residential aged care funding assessments so that consumers have real control and choice in the services they receive.

Barwon Health has been appointed as the lead agency for the Vic West Single Assessment Service partnership, with 30 per cent of Aged Care Needs Assessments for the VIC 3 Region allocated to the organisation under a direct contract with DOHAC. The VIC 3 Region comprises the Barwon South West, Grampians, and Loddon Mallee regions.

Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver said the successful tender was submitted in partnership with Grampians Health and Bendigo Health.

“This new model will enable Barwon Health and our partners to deliver more coordinated and efficient aged care assessments, ensuring that older Victorians receive the care and support they need when they need it,” she said.

“It’s a great opportunity to strengthen our regional health services and build on our commitment to innovation in aged care.

“By working collaboratively with Grampians Health and Bendigo Health, we’re ensuring that communities across the Barwon South West, Grampians, and Loddon Mallee regions will benefit from a system that is not only streamlined but also focused on delivering high-quality outcomes for individuals and families.”

In addition to this allocation, Barwon Health will provide Aged Care Needs Assessments for the VIC 3 Region and under the Victorian Department of Health (DH) contract Aged Care Needs Assessments for the Barwon South West Region. In addition to these services, Barwon Health will undertake in-hospital Aged Care Needs Assessments for the Barwon South West Region, including services previously provided by Lyndoch in Warrnambool. This expanded role reinforces Barwon Health’s commitment to supporting aged care needs across the region and strengthens the partnerships in place.

To meet the demands of this new system, Barwon Health will expand its remote workforce model across the region while maintaining permanent offices in Geelong, Portland and Warrnambool. To further support this model, both Grampians Health and Bendigo Health will be sub-contracted to ensure comprehensive service coverage across the Grampians and Loddon Mallee regions.

This significant new arrangement commenced on 6 December 2024 and marks a pivotal step towards delivering streamlined, high-quality aged care services in Victoria.