Vision 2020 Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the Department of Social Services (the Department) on the New Aged Care Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme Policy Consultation Paper and congratulates the Department on the progression of this important program. Vision 2020 Australia supports in principle the objectives of the STRC Programme, in particular the intent of the programme to deliver early intervention care supports to assist people over 65 regain their independence.
That being said, Vision 2020 Australia is concerned that there is a lack of clear indication about how Australians who are blind or vision impaired and aged 65 years and older, will have access to services through the new aged care system. More so, with a full complement of only 2,000 places available by 2021, Vision 2020 Australia is concerned that the STRC Programme will be insufficient to address the needs of the ageing population in need of specialist blindness services. Vison 2020 Australia therefore provides comment to the Department on how the STRC Programme can be adjusted to ensure that people who are blind or vision impaired are not left behind.