Community Support

Latest Update - April 2025

The Community Assistance and Temporary Supports (CATS) Program commenced on 1 October 2023.  This followed extensive collaboration with the Community Support Subsector and other stakeholders. The start of this program also signals the completion of the first full commissioning cycle conducted by the ACT Health. Procurement for CATS program delivery culminated in agreements with 7 providers, including one consortium arrangement, who have each been contracted to provide a mix of temporary, low intensity, non-clinical support services.

The CATS Program replaced the Community Assistance and Support (CASP), Flexible Family Support (FFS) and Transitional Care (TCP) Programs. The program was designed to retain some of the best features of its three predecessor programs and introduce some significant improvements, including:

• a shift to placing central importance on program outcomes, participant experience, robust data collection and reporting, along with continuous service improvement
• reducing pressure on acute health services through the ‘Post Hospital Support Program’ which has a presence in ACT public hospitals 5 days per week to assist people as they discharge with short term recovery support needs allowing better discharge times and reduction in the possibility of re-admission
• making eligibility criteria changes so that Canberrans of all ages – including those over 65 years of age – will be able to access services
• providing longer episodes of support with an increase from 12 weeks under CASP to 6 months for participants and 12 months for carers under the new program
• a Central Intake Service (CIS) commenced in January 2025 to ensure consumers/referrals are quickly linked to the correct service providers.

There are important lessons that both ACTHD and the community support subsector have learned through this commissioning process. We will continue to reflect on our experiences as we move forward, collaboratively working together with a focus on continuous improvement, and delivering quality services in community-based services in alignment with the needs of the Canberra community.

There has been good uptake of the CATS services and providers are reporting on the impact and outcomes indicating the service has made a positive impact in the recovery of many Canberrans. ACT Health and providers are working to ensure that services are timely, of good quality and are in line with program guidelines.

If you have questions, please contact the CATS team by emailing CATSprogram@act.gov.au or visit the ACT Government website.