Full description
The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care was established on or about 20 April, 2001 by the Public Sector Management (Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care) Order 2001. The order also abolished the Ageing and Disability Department and all of its branches, in addition to the Disability Services Branch of the Department of Community Services were transferred to the newly established department. (1)
The Home Care Service of New South Wales transferred its reporting line from the Director General of the Department of Community Services to that of the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care. The service, however, continued to be a statutory body governed by its own Advisory Board. (2)
The creation of the new Department led to a centralisation of skills in dealing with the aged and disabled. (3) The aim of the department was to "enable better standards of care and support for older people, people with disabilities, and their carers, to live successfully in their communities". (4)
Some of the programs available were as follows:
For the aged and disabled
* information on strategic policy, planning and funding for older people, people with disabilities and their carers including Home and Community Care Program; NSW Seniors Card; and Seniors Information Service
* Home and Community Assistance
Information on community-based assistance for frail aged people, younger people with disabilities and their carers including domestic assistance; personal care and respite care
* For the Intellectually disabled
Information about services for people with intellectual disabilities and their families including assessment, therapy, referral, counselling, respite care and supported accommodation. (5)
Coinciding with the establishment of the new department was an increased budgetary allocation of $65.2 million for disability and similar support programs (6)
On 7 April 2003 the Businesslink branch was removed and added to the Department of Housing. (7)
From 1 July 2009 the Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care was abolished and its functions were transferred to the Ageing Disability and Home Care branch of the new Principal Department, the Department of Human Services. (8)
Endnotes
1. Public Sector Management (Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care) Order, 2001 in NSW Government Gazette, 20 April 2001, pp.1960-1961.
2. Home Care Service of New South Wales website http://www.homecare.gov.au/about.htm (accessed 18 July 2001).
3. New Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care: Media Release, 5 April 2001.
4. Department of Ageing, Disability & Home Care website http://www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au.
5. Loc. Cit
6. New Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care loc. cit.
7. Public Sector Employment and Management (NSW businesslink) Order 2003 in NSW Government Gazette, 4 April 2003, p.4422.
8. Public Sector Employment and Management (Departmental Amalgamations) Order 2009 (2009 No 352) cls.13; notified on NSW Legislation website, 27 July 2009.
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