Better health and ageing for all Australians

Aged Care Approvals Round

2012-13 Aged Care Approvals Round

Information about the 2012-13 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR)

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Update on 2012-13 Aged Care Approvals Round

Announcement of the results of the 2012-13 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR), expected in June this year, has been delayed.

Applicants based their applications on changes to the current aged care system from 1 July 2013 (for Home Care Packages) and 1 July 2014 (for residential aged care places) expected to flow from the Living Longer Living Better legislation currently before Parliament.

The legislation establishes the framework necessary to deliver:
  • the conversion of existing CACP, EACH and EACHD Packages into Home Care Packages Levels 2 and 4;
  • the introduction of new Level 1 and Level 3 Home Care Packages;
  • new client assessment and provider approval arrangements to reflect the move to four levels of Home Care Packages;
  • the reduction of red tape through abolishing current requirements for Home Care Package providers to maintain separate payment agreements with the Commonwealth in addition to meeting their other legislated obligations;
  • the introduction of the dementia, veterans’ and workforce supplements;
  • reformed residential aged care financing arrangements;
  • removal of the high low distinction in residential aged care; and
  • fairer means testing arrangements.
New program infrastructure, in the form of changes to the subsidy payments system and subsidy claims forms, program guidelines and Aged Care Assessment Team assessment processes, has been developed based on the legislation before Parliament.

Depending on the outcome of the legislative process, it may be necessary to reassess what is legislatively possible and to re-engineer program infrastructure.

Further advice on the timing of the 2012-13 ACAR results is expected to be available in the coming weeks.

Invitation to Apply for places and grants

An Invitation to Apply for 8,341 residential places, 5,835 Home Care Packages, more than $150 million in zero real interest loans, $51 million in capital grants and Extra Service Status appeared in major metropolitan and leading regional newspapers on Saturday 10 November 2012.

Closing date for submitting applications

Applications closed at 2.00 pm Friday 21 December 2012.

2012-13 Application Forms

Application forms are no longer available from this website. If you would like a copy of the 2012-13 application forms, please email ACAR or contact the Aged Care Help Desk on 1800 900 554.

Home Care Packages

The information provided in this publication is for the assistance of all prospective applicants. It is not intended as a replacement for, or a complete summary of the requirements contained in the Aged Care Act 1997 (the Act) or the Aged Care Principles. All prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Act and the Principles prior to lodging an application.

2012-13 ACAR Essential Guide

You may download this document in word or PDF format. The document contains the following sections. (This material is provided for your reference).
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Section 1 Introduction

Section 2 Home Care Packages

Section 3 Residential Aged Care Places, Zero Real Interest Loan and/or Capital Grant

Section 4 Zero Real Interest loans

Section 5 Capital Grants

Section 6 Extra Service status

Section 7 Regional Distribution of Aged Care Places

Section 8 Regional Response to the 2011 Aged Care Approvals Round

Questions and Answers

The attached document contains general information about the 2012-13 Aged Care Approvals Round and the application process.

Aged Care Planning Region Maps

The new places made available for the 2012-13 Aged Care Approvals Round are distributed across aged care planning regions within each state or territory. These maps show the regions across Australia and are available on the Aged Care Approvals Round Planning Region Maps webpage.

Additional Reference information:

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