An evaluation of the implementation, effectiveness and efficiency of the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP), which offers information, education and advocacy to older Australians accessing government-funded aged care. The report findings highlight NACAP as a vital and well-regarded service that delivers meaningful support and positive outcomes for older people, with recommendations for future improvements.

The evaluation focused on core NACAP services (information, advocacy, and education) and the pilot Home Care Check-In Project (HCCI). Other expansion activities were considered where relevant but were not a major focus; nor was systemic advocacy. It was was guided by 10 key evaluation questions. To answer these evaluation questions, multiple data sources were drawn on including: 

• program documents (such as performance reports, service delivery guides, program logics, activity work plans, annual and financial reports)
• NACAP minimum data set
• interviews with stakeholders
• survey responses from aged care staff and NACAP recipients.

Key recommendations

• Define a prioritisation framework to help advocates.
• Continue to increase geographical reach.
• Fund all Service Delivery Organisations (SDOs) to establish or expand HCCI services in high-need areas.
• Work with aged care staff to develop flexible options for NACAP education.
• Ensure advocates have access to timely and appropriate peer, manager and external support.
• Consider ways to make training delivered by individual SDOs available across the consortium.