Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for his question. I am pleased to inform the Senate that from 1 July the My Aged Care gateway will become the single entry point to Australia's aged-care system, making it easier for older Australians to access aged-care services. In particular, one of the major changes to the My Aged Care service from 1 July is the introduction of the regional assessment service, or the RAS. The RAS will provide assessments of the home support needs of older Australians. It is going to help them to locate and access the services that they need to help them remain living at home. For the very first time older Australians will know that their needs are being independently assessed. It is important that by separating assessment from service provision we are ensuring that older Australians are being assessed for what they need rather than just for the services that a particular provider can give them. This separation is consistent with the best practice for government services outlined in the Harper review.

The current process for assessments is a little fragmented, with several hundred organisations providing assessments which are often limited to the services that they themselves deliver. The RAS is going to help ensure that the services received correspond to the needs of an individual and that they are not limited by the scope of that particular service provider. This change will ensure that there is a consistent nationwide approach across the country. These new regional assessment arrangements will make it easier for older Australians to access the services and information that they need to help them remain at home for longer.