Ageing and Aged Care

Director: Jane Herington
Enquiries: Tel (61 3) 9096 7389
Email: Jane.Herington@health.vic.gov.au

The Ageing and Aged Care Branch represents the health and wellbeing of Victorian seniors across the whole of government and has an active role in the funding, planning and delivery of a wide range of services for older people and their carers.

We address a broad range of issues facing older Victorians through programs aimed at enhancing their wellbeing and participation in the community, and through aged care and other support services.

Older people make a rich and valuable contribution to the Victorian community and our role is to develop and fund policies that will facilitate them to continue doing so as they age.

Through the policies and programs we fund we promote healthy and active living for Victorian seniors, encourage positive images of ageing and the participation of seniors in economic and social activity.

We fund and provide services that enable older people to maintain their independence at home for as long as possible, and facilitate access to good quality residential services where and when they may be needed.

We recognise the diversity of our older population and have support services to assist older people who are marginalised to access services.

Our objective is to enable all Victorian seniors, regardless of the circumstances, background or where they live, to play active and valued roles in society, age with dignity and have their rights respected and upheld.

The Ageing and Aged Care Branch has responsibility for:

Policy

• Population ageing policy
• Aged care policy

Seniors participation

• Companion Card
• Seniors Card
• Community Registers
• Victorian Seniors Festival
• Victorian Senior of the Year Award
• Universities of the Third Age
• Positive Ageing

Health promotion

• Strength training
• Falls prevention
• Oral Health
• Well for Life
• Count us In!

Seniors rights

• Elder Abuse Prevention
• Seniors Information Victoria

Assessment

• Aged Care Assessment Services in Victoria

Community care services and other services to support independent living

• Home & Community Care (HACC) policy, planning and program development and management
• Funding of programs providing support for people with dementia
• Support for carers and care relationships
• Management of Personal Alert Victoria and the Victorian Eyecare Service

Residential services

• Public Sector Residential Services program management, planning and policy, including the Victorian Government’s policy directions and priorities as a major provider of residential aged care services in the State
• Low cost accommodation support programs - accommodation and support for older people and people with complex needs
• Facilitating access to residential aged care, including through the Aged Care Land Bank

Supported Residential Services

• Regulation and sector support
• Supporting Accommodation for Vulnerable Victorians to improve the viability and capacity of pension-level SRS to meet the support needs of their residents.

Branch structure

The Ageing and Aged Care branch comprises the following business units:

• HACC and Assessment
• Residential Services
• Policy and Analysis
• Service Development
• Seniors Programs and Participation

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Related information

Aged Care in Victoria
Home and Community Care
Supported Residential Services

A to Z Aged Care
Drugs and Poisons in Victoria Medication management tool kit, legislation

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Related sites

Aged Care in Australia
Better Health Channel
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
Go for your life for professionals
Seniors Online