Results of the 2015 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR)
A total of 17,385 new aged care places (10,940 residential aged care places and 6,445 home care places) were allocated across Australia in the 2015 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR). These new places have an estimated annual recurrent funding value of over $910 million.
In addition, $67 million in capital grants has been allocated nationwide to help aged care providers to establish new services or upgrade existing facilities.
Contents:
2015 ACAR results summary
Deferred allocations
Details of the new allocations
Information for unsuccessful applicants
Individual feedback for unsuccessful applicants
Previous ACAR results
Information about the 2015 ACAR, including background, Questions and Answers, and the Essential Guide is available on the 2015 Aged Care Approvals Round page.
2015 ACAR results summary
State/territoryResidential placesHome care placesEstimated annual recurrent funding ($m)Capital grants ($m)
NSW2,8752,424$268.9$1.7
VIC3,0801,789$257.4$27.7
QLD3,120914$222.8$20.5
WA1,260438$91.2$3.1
SA250640$40.2$4.7
TAS80164$10.9$5.5
ACT21061$14.8-
NT6515$4.5$3.8
Total10,9406,445$910.7$67
Overall, competition for new aged care places was the strongest seen in recent ACARs. This high level of competition meant that otherwise suitable applications were not successful in obtaining new places, because other applicants in the region were more competitive.
Deferred allocations
As at 18 March 2016, the above places include deferred allocations in respect of applicants who are awaiting the required approved provider status. As the related approved provider applications are progressively approved, this website, listing the details of the successful applicants in the 2015 ACAR, will be updated.
Residential aged care places summary
Competition for new residential aged care places was much stronger in the 2015 ACAR than in previous rounds. The Department received applications for 38,859 new residential aged care places, more than double the amount sought in the 2014 ACAR. This meant that approximately 4 new places were sought for every place available. A total of 10,940 new residential aged care places were allocated following the competitive assessment process conducted by the Department.
Around 62 per cent of residential aged care places were allocated for the development of new residential aged care services
Around 38 per cent of residential aged care places were allocated to expand existing residential aged care services, rebuilding/upgrading of older services and expand services yet to be developed
Home care places summary
Competition for new home care places was extremely high. A total of 6,045 places were advertised on 15 August 2015 and an additional 400 Level 4 home care places were re-assigned for allocation in the 2015 ACAR when the Minister for Aged Care varied the original Ministerial Determination in January 2016. The Department received applications for 126,808 new home care places in respect of the 6,445 places available. This means that approximately 20 new places were sought for every place available. A total of 6,445 new home care places were allocated following the competitive assessment process conducted by the Department.
Around 37 per cent of home care places were allocated for new home care services
Around 63 per cent of home care places were allocated to expand existing home care services
The total number of home care places allocated through the 2015 ACAR (6,445) is a slight reduction on the total number of places that were allocated in the 2014 ACAR (6,653).
While this is the case, a key focus of the 2015 ACAR was the release of significantly more Level 3 and Level 4 home care places than were made available in the 2014 ACAR, and fewer lower level home care places. The 6,445 home care places include 5,995 level 3 and 4 packages. This is an increase of 2,129 places (55 per cent) compared to the number of Level 3 and 4 places allocated through the 2014 ACAR, in recognition of consumer demand for higher level home care and sector feedback.
Changes were announced in the 2015-16 Budget to ensure that the aged care system in Australia continues to meet the needs of an ageing population. From February 2017, older Australians receiving Home Care Packages each year will be able to choose who provides their care, because the Government has changed the funding arrangements to attach the package to the individual, rather than the provider. As a result, this is the last ACAR in which providers will have to apply for home care places.
Details of 2015 ACAR allocations
Details of the allocations made to successful applicants (excluding deferred allocations) listed by state/territory, provider and region. Please note, further information regarding allocations of places with a focus on special needs groups and key issues will be published once the Department of Health has formally issued the notification of allocation, a requirement under the Aged Care Act 1997.
Residential aged care places and capital grant allocations
By provider
By provider - PDF [364KB]
By provider - Excel [29KB]
By region
By region - PDF [357KB]
By region - Excel [29KB]
Home care places allocations
By provider
By provider - PDF [618KB]
By provider - Excel [44KB]
By region
By region - PDF [626KB]
By region - Excel [43KB]
Regional response to the 2015 ACAR
A summary of outcomes from the 2015 ACAR including places made available, applications received, and places sought, by state/territory, by aged care planning region and by care type.
Regional response to the 2015 ACAR - PDF [327KB]
Regional response to the 2015 ACAR - Word [35KB]
Information for unsuccessful applicants
The allocation of new aged care places and capital grants is made by the Department of Health in accordance with theAged Care Act 1997 section 14-1 (Allocation of places), section 14-2 (Competitive assessment of applications for allocations), section 72-1 (Allocation of residential care grants) and associated Allocation Principles 2014 and Grant Principles 2014.
Places are allocated to applicants that demonstrate they best meet the needs of the aged community in an aged care planning region. Grants are allocated to applicants that meet the criteria set out in Part 2, section 7 of the Grant Principles 2014 and whose proposals are then assessed as being of the highest priority, relative to other applications, against the criteria set out in Part 2, section 8 of the Grant Principles 2014.
The information below provides a summary for applicants that were not successful in attaining an allocation of home care places, residential aged care places or a capital grant in the 2015 ACAR. This feedback draws on the applications received by the Department and provides information on areas where less competitive applications could have been strengthened.
General feedback for applicants for home care places
General feedback for applicants for residential aged care places
General feedback for applicants for capital grants
Individual feedback for unsuccessful applicants
Unsuccessful applicants may register to receive feedback on their applications at ACAR@health.gov.au(link sends e-mail). Registrations for feedback must be received by Friday 29 April 2016.
Individual feedback will not be provided to any applicant in the 2015 ACAR that does not register to the above email address by midnight Friday 29 April 2016.
In registering to receive feedback, applicants must provide the following information:
Organisation/Approved provider name (including NAPS ID, if applicable);
Service(s) name and address;
Care type;
Aged Care Planning Region(s) in which the places were applied for;
Contact name (a person with authority to act on behalf of the applicant);
Telephone contact details; and
Email address.
Where an applicant applied for places across multiple states, each service and aged care planning region must be listed in order to receive feedback for each application.
Feedback will be provided to registered applicants from May 2016.
Read more cat: https://www.dss.gov.au/ageing-and-aged-care/aged-care-funding/aged-care-approvals-round-acar/results-of-the-2015-aged-care-approvals-round-acar