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Australia - Legislation

Aged Care Act (1997)

Commonwealth of Australia

From
1997
To
1997

The Aged Care Act 1997 is the legislation relating to the provision of aged care in Australia. From 1 December 2009, this Act has recognised 'care leavers' as a 'special needs group'. This amendment is part of the Federal Government's program to improve aged care for Forgotten Australians, in the wake of the Apology in November 2009. The inclusion of 'care leavers' in the Aged Care Act 1997 means that the needs of Forgotten Australians must be considered in the planning and allocation of aged care places.

Details

The Allocation Principles of the Aged Care Act were amended to include 'care leavers' as a 'special needs group' in December 2009. The Provisions contained the following definitions:

'care-leaver' means a person who was in institutional care or other form of out-of-home care, including foster care, as a child or youth (or both) at some time during the 20th century.

'institutional care' refers to residential care provided by a government or non government organisation, including (but not limited to) any of the following:

  • (a) orphanages;
  • (b) children's homes;
  • (c) industrial, training or farm schools;
  • (d) dormitory or group cottage houses;
  • (e) juvenile detention centres;
  • (f) mental health or disability facilities.

Publications

Online Resources

Sources used to compile this entry: 'Allocation Amendment Principles 2009 (No. 2), Aged Care Act 1997 Allocation Amendment Principles 2009 (No. 2), Aged Care Act 1997', in ComLaw, Commonwealth of Australia, 2009, http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2009L04302.

Prepared by: Cate O'Neill