Applications for the Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) opened this week, with existing and prospective providers of Australian Government-funded aged care across the Paterson electorate encouraged to apply.

Federal Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin said there will be 10,940 residential aged care places and 6,045 home care places allocated across Australian through the 2015 ACAR.

This includes 2,875 residential aged care places and 2,245 home care places across New South Wales.

“The ACAR will deliver more residential aged care places and home care places to help further meet demand for aged care,” Mr Baldwin said.

“This round continues to expand the Home Care Packages Programme, giving people more options to live independently in their home, with more choice and flexibility over the services they receive.

“In recognition of community need for home care places for people with more complex care needs, the Australian Government is releasing 1,729 more Level 3 and Level 4 home care places than the 2014 ACAR—an increase of 45 per cent.

“These grants encourage greater investment in areas of high need, with $11.5 million allocated to support access to residential aged care for older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.”

For more information on the 2015 ACAR, including information on how to apply, please visit www.dss.gov.au/2015ACAR.

All applications must be received by 11:59pm (AEST) Friday 25 September 2015.