2010-04: An Investigation of Service Mix within the Home and Community Care Program in Queensland (Working paper)

Abstract

Given Australia's ageing population, the demand for Home and Community Care services is expected to escalate to unprecedented levels. A skilled and flexible aged care workforce, together with other broader aged care workforce planning needs, has become a priority at both the national and state levels. This study examined the Australian government's Home and Community Care program for possible regional differences in service hours received by clients and associations between services. Analysis was based on the Minimum Data Set of 2007/08 and confined to Queensland clients aged 18 and over. Among clients residing outside the city, an inverse relationship existed between allied health and nursing hours. This suggests that other categories of staff may have supplemented the shortfall in skilled labour present in regional and remote areas. The findings are part of the initial steps in examining the potential opportunities available to government in implementing skill mix reforms within the health sector.