An Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation operating in remote parts of Australia delivers services through health clinics and an aged care facility. The aged care service enables frail elders to remain on their land in proximity to family members whilst receiving a high standard of care.
The residential and in-home aged care service had been successfully delivered for many years. At the time the work was conducted the organisation received National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care and Commonwealth Home Support Programme funding. Recent regulatory changes and rising costs had rendered the financial future of the service uncertain as was evident in the most recent financial reports. Moreover, given the remoteness of the service there would be no clear alternative service provider in circumstances that it was discontinued for financial reasons.
A part of our Community Partnership Scheme, Nous undertook preliminary analysis to inform advice about future scenarios for the aged care service.
Nous analysed the aged care service’s financial predicament to identify specific areas for improvement, including areas of potential savings and possible additional revenue sources. Specifically, we:
We identified several areas of potential savings and alternative revenue sources that could meaningfully reduce the operating deficit for the highly valued aged care service. Our report set out the steps to precisely quantify and deliver savings and revenue that were necessary to establish longer term financial viability.