In November 2018 and May 2019, Bass Coast Shire Council resolved to transition out of Aged and Disability Services and Assessment Services respectively.

Council has provided these highly valued services to the community since the 1980s. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth’s aged and health care reforms make it unviable for Council to continue delivering these services, as it is unable to compete with private providers.

mecwacare has been chosen by both the State and Federal governments as the provider of Aged and Disability Services and Assessment Services for the Bass Coast Shire and will start servicing Bass Coast clients from January 2020.

mecwacare is a not-for-profit organisation that has been providing a range of care services to the Victorian community since 1959 and is already providing aged care and disability services in the South Gippsland Shire. They have a number of offices throughout Victoria, including a local office in Inverloch.

A key benefit for clients is that many of the services provided by Council will be provided by mecwacare at lower fees.

Council will transfer all client records to mecwacare. This is to ensure that mecwacare has the same information to deliver the same services to clients that they received from Council. Council will retain a copy of client records that clients can access.

Current clients, carers and families impacted by this change have been notified of the new service provider, with information sessions being held this week for those affected.

Bass Coast Shire CEO Ali Wastie said Council is proud of the services it has provided over the past 30 years and its staff who have often gone above and beyond to support the needs of the Bass Coast community.

“We are doing our best to ensure that our staff are well supported through this change process and, where possible, securing suitable redeployment opportunities,” Ms Wastie said.

For further information on the changes and its impacts, visit Council’s website at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/servicechanges or contact Council’s Aged and Disability Team on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.

Residents 65 and over who wish to seek advice about eligibility for services, can go to www.myagedcare.gov.au or call 1800 200 422.

Residents under 65 can continue to contact Council until 31 December 2019. After this date, mecwacare will provide the assessment service and can be contacted on (03) 8573 4980.