Home Care

What is HACC?

The Home and Community Care (HACC) Program is currently a joint Australian, State and Territory Government initiative. Commonly known as HACC, the Program provides services such as domestic assistance, personal care as well as professional allied health care and nursing services in order to support older Australians, younger people with a disability and their carers (family and friends) to be supported at home and in the community and to reduce the potential or inappropriate need for admission to residential care.

You could consider HACC as an early intervention service to support a person at home during a time of crisis. Getting help does not mean you or your family are dependent on external services. Rather, HACC services complement and support you to care for your family member at home.

The HACC Program provides a basic level of support to recipients. In New South Wales, the Program is administered by Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW. HACC services are delivered by government and a range of community organisations that may be faith-based, multicultural or ethno-specific. Not all HACC services are available in every area. It is important to ask particularly if you have a specific need.

To find out more about the Home and Community Care Program Overview, click on the link,

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/hacc-index.htm

Who to contact first?

As a starting point, contact Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres which are information centres that provide free and confidential information on community aged care, disability and other support services available locally, interstate or anywhere within Australia.

You can contact your nearest Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre by phoning a national telephone number Freecall™ 1800 052 222*. Anyone can contact a Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre. For more information, click on the link http://www9.health.gov.au/ccsd/.

HACC Access Worker and SAMAA

The Statewide Home and Community Care Multicultural Access Program Officer works with SAMAA Executive to deliver appropriate aged care information to its members as well as identify issues and barriers in HACC service provision.  Information about the HACC Program is currently available in various languages including English, Hindi & Tamil  here

SAMAA hopes to pursue HACC to produce a Handbook in Urdu as well.