Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission, the ACCC , has released guidelines to help new and existing  aged care home care service providers understand their rights and obligations under existing competition and consumer laws.

The competition regulator released the following guide “Home care services – know your business rights and obligations under the competition and consumer law “in July.

This was in response to increased competition in the sector due to greater consumer choice under the consumer directed model.

According to the ACCC  the purpose of the guide is to help both private and not-for-profit home care organisations understand their rights and obligations under the Competition  and  Consumer Act including Australian Consumer law.

The guidelines cover home care agreements, dealing with home care customers, business rights and fair competition and handling complaints as well as a checklist to help home care businesses comply with consumer and competition laws. Included in the guide are case studies and examples of where   past breaches have occurred.

A separate set of guidelines for consumers has also been released by the ACCC.

“Home care – know your consumer rights” has been designed for people who purchase home care goods and services and those who receive them through a government funded Home Care Package.