AHA was engaged to undertake a review of Commonwealth Aged Care Advocacy Services in order to inform the development of an future model for an end-to-end individual advocacy programme that can best support consumers.

The Commonwealth Government funds individual advocacy services for aged care consumers through two programs:

1. The National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP)
2. The Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) Program.

The review was designed to inform the development of an future model for an end-to-end individual advocacy program that can best support consumers to:

• Effectively interact with the aged care system
• Better transition between service types
• Be empowered to apply informed decision making and actively exercise choice

The review involved:

1. Considering the current model of National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP)
2. Looking at current systemic type advocacy activities to identify enhanced systemic advocacy mechanisms, separate to individual advocacy for consumers
3. Examining whether NACAP is meeting the needs of people from special needs groups, as identified by the Aged Care Act 1997
4. Analysing current funding against current and anticipated growth in client numbers
5. Examining the viability of future NACAP funding being subject to contestability and long-term funding arrangements.

The review was undertaken at a time of widespread changes to the Australian aged care system, which centre on embedding greater choice, flexibility and control for consumers.

The final report is available on the department’s website.