The announcement that the ACT Government was going to close the Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre in Rivett was met with community outrage. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
A committee inquiry report has recommended that the ACT Government give clients and carers at the Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre at least six months’ notice of any proposed changes before its delivery contract expires.
The centre was set to close by June 2025 after the government received advice that there was “insufficient funding being available to cover escalating costs”, and that it had been estimated in 2023 that the facility required $900,000 in upgrades.
This led to an outpouring of community outrage and support, and in May the government agreed to extend the centre’s lease, held by the Salvation Army, until 30 June 2027.
A committee inquiry was set up to look into the proposed closure of Burrangiri off the back of two petitions (presented before the announcement the centre would stay open), with a report noting the while the decision was welcomed, “the process leading up to this decision highlighted several considerations for future funding decisions relating to Burrangiri and alternative aged care respite options”.
The report made nine recommendations, both regarding the future of Burrangiri and aged care respite places in Canberra more broadly.
The importance of consultation, support and planned transitional arrangements was a key concern raised about the process surrounding the centre’s proposed closure, with the ACT Human Rights Commission highlighting one complaint it had received from a woman whose mother had dementia.
The woman outlined that her mother attended the day respite service so that she could work.
“Neither they nor her mother had been consulted prior to the decision being made … about the day centre closing,” the Commission submitted.
“The carer claimed that the manner in which a decision was made to close the centre, without consulting the people who use the service, dismissed issues relevant to older people, treated older people less favourably and may not meet the ACT Government’s human rights obligations.”
The committee noted that while The Salvation Army had been given notice about the closure in January, it was unclear what notice was provided directly to clients and their families.
“The Committee remains concerned that if not properly managed, the expiry of the new contract in two years may result in a period of uncertainty and stress for families and staff,” the report noted.
“Timely consultation, support and transitional arrangements should be afforded to any vital community service before the expiry of an existing contract as a standard requirement.”
For Burrangiri, the committee has suggested “timely” action would occur at least six months before the current lease expires.
Opposition Leader Leanne Castley echoed this call when the report was presented to the Legislative Assembly.
“We can’t just hear [again] that a centre is closing in two weeks and ‘you have to sort something out’,” she said.
Murrumbidgee independent MLA Fiona Carrick said she would be watching closely as the end date of The Salvation Army’s contract to run the service approached, as the community needed plenty of notice if things were going to change.
“[Burrangiri] provides respite to a wide range of people, including those with disabilities, it supports carers, it helps [stop] people from being forced into aged care upon discharge from hospital,” she said.
“Respite care provides [people with] an important option.”
Carers ACT’s submission included a call for an audit of current and future demand for respite in Canberra, including an examination of how federally funded respite beds were being used in practice.
“There is also growing concern and reports from carers that some residential aged care facilities [RACFs] receiving funding to offer respite beds instead use them as commercial entry points, only offering beds to those considering permanent admission,” it submitted.
“There is a fear … that this practice is contributing to the shortage of genuine short-term respite options and further limiting access for those who need temporary support to sustain care at home.”
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith indicated during the hearings that aged care respite might increasingly be provided by Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs).
“We will continue to call on the Commonwealth to work with the aged care sector to facilitate additional capacity for respite for older Canberrans in the short, medium and long term, because we know if we incentivise respite in aged care facilities, it can be provided,” she said.
The committee recommended that if RACFs were to be used as part of the respite landscape, work should be done to improve access and the experience overall for carers and elderly Canberrans.
Recommendations in this space included incentives to encourage private operators to build new, dedicated aged care respite facilities, provide more dedicated aged care respite services through government-owned services, and for work to be done with the Commonwealth and sector to explore ways to better utilise current facilities.
Funding for aged care respite services is a Commonwealth responsibility.
