Page 370 - Week 03 - Thursday, 1 June 1989
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recommendations to look specifically at options to improve the efficiency of the administration of the program; arrangements for funding those services currently covered by no growth restrictions or excluded under the program; links between residential and disability services programs and HACC; the basis for future review of the appropriateness, efficiency and effectiveness of a full range of services provided under HACC; and the impact of changes in various Commonwealth and State programs on HACC.
A team of officers in my department is working to implement the recommendations of the review, in consultation with the community and the Commonwealth Department of Community Services and Health. I expect that, once implemented, HACC will prove to be an even more receptive and effective community program. Another important initiative is a review of individual HACC services, which is nearing completion. A small team of officers in my department has been involved in interviewing each HACC service individually. The aim is to find out the extent to which the HACC objectives of cost-effectiveness, appropriate and accessible care, and appropriate targeting of services are being met by both individual services and the overall HACC program in the ACT.
Through the process of conducting the service reviews, we will be able to determine appropriate measures to increase both individual service and overall program efficiency. Information provision has long been an issue to HACC. To this end I am pleased to announce that the first ACT HACC newsletter is expected to be released in the next two to three weeks. The need for the newsletter has been highlighted by the service reviews, and I expect that, once services know more about HACC, what my department is trying to achieve and what other HACC services are doing, they will become better integrated, and a better quality service will be provided to the community.
Another important medium for information provision is the HACC strategic plan. The first ACT plan was released recently, and copies were sent to all HACC service providers. The plan outlined achievements of HACC in the ACT, its development, a list of all the types of services funded in the ACT, future directions for the program, and strategies and tasks for the future to help HACC meet its priorities. Priorities identified for HACC in the future include continuing to expand and improve the quality and availability of existing HACC services for the target population; improving access for younger disabled people; investigating options and implementing strategies to improve access by Aboriginal people and people from a non-English speaking background to HACC services; and promoting effective management of the program in a way which encourages contributions by service providers.
Already my department has worked towards achieving these priorities. A number of existing HACC services received expansion funds earlier this year, such as Barnardo's
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