"ACAT Assessment wait times"

We are a community care coordinator of Aged Care Packages through the Staying in Place movement. We are trying, desperately, to support people over 65 to remain living independently in and around Northcliffe. As an isolated area, this is not easy, however we are trying to build our supports and improve services in this area. 

This will remain unfunded until individuals are given Home Care Packages to support the programme. 

We have been trying since June to get a referral accepted by ACAT for some clients. A couple of days ago, I was called by the Southwest ACAT assessment team to be notified that two of my highest risk clients had been accepted, and that the wait time for their assessments would be 14 weeks. We already know that once assessed, the wait time for an actual allocation of funds is 6 - 18 months... 

I am shocked that the wait times are this long for an assessment. I don't doubt this is an in-depth process, and I don't doubt that the ACAT team have a high work-load. I feel something should be done in this arena to shorten these wait times. I am yet to hear about some of my other clients who we have also applied for assessments. Whilst perhaps not as time critical, I am concerned that I will need to wait 14 weeks once their application is even approved. This is looking like a 2 year wait for some clients.   

I am concerned that as both of these clients are high risk, there is a chance, that they may die before being allocated a package to support them to live independently.