The ACS began in 1965 as the Association of Voluntary Geriatric Agencies (NSW). The foundation members were the Anglican Church, the Baptist Church, the Big Sister Movement, the Catholic Church and the Churches of Christ. The Association of Voluntary Geriatric Agencies (NSW) was created to develop an industrial award covering conditions of employment and rates of pay for workers in residential aged care services. The name was changed in 1969 to the Voluntary Care Association and it became an industrial union of employers under the NSW Industrial Arbitration Act.
In 1991 the Association became known as the Aged Services Association (ASA). From July 2001 we adopted the name Aged & Community Services Association of NSW & ACT (ACS), reflecting the increasing role of the Association and its members in representing and providing community care services. The Association is registered with the NSW Industrial Registrar and the Federal Industrial Registrar.
ACS is a registered industrial organisation of employers who are aged and community care providers in the non-profit, charitable sector. The ACS is a representative organisation. It represents members’ views politically at a Commonwealth and State level, either directly in its own right or indirectly via Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA).
ACS provides a comprehensive, one-stop shop for not-for-profit member organisations and for those for-profit organisations that join our Industry Advice Scheme. We are the aged and community care professionals. No other industry association in NSW or the ACT covers the full spectrum of residential care, self care and community care.
As at 10th May 2010 we have 277 members who manage 1862 services: 709 residential care facilities (226 high care and 483 low care), 434 retirement villages and 719 community care services (214 CACP services, 71 EACH programs, 50 EACH Dementia programs, 200 HACC services and 184 of other community care services).
The services provided by our members include :
12,542 High Care Places
23,976 Low Care Places
17,230 Self Care Units
11,759 Community Aged Care Packages
1,312 Extended Aged Care at Home Packages
581 Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia Packages
INDUSTRY ADVICE SCHEME MEMBERSHIP
Our Industry Advice Scheme membership includes 15 Members who manage 21 high care facilities (1795 places), 9 low care facilities (340 places), 5 retirement villages (298 self care units) and 15 community care services (104 CACP places, 58 EACH packages, 27 EACH Dementia packages, HACC programs and other community care services).
