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 30th June 2011 we have 266 members who manage 1940 services: 716 residential care facilities (229 high care and 487 low care), 453 retirement villages and 771 community care services (217 CACP services, 77 EACH programs, 61 EACH Dementia programs, 217 HACC services and 199 of other community care services).
The services provided by our members include:
12,597 High Care Places
24,825 Low Care Places
17,957 Self Care Units
12,218 Community Aged Care Packages
1,515 Extended Aged Care at Home Packages
722 Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia Packages
INDUSTRY ADVICE SCHEME MEMBERSHIP
Our Industry Advice Scheme membership includes 18 Members who manage 21 high care facilities (1795 places), 10 low care facilities (374 places), 7 retirement villages (420 self care units) and 16 community care services (154 CACP places, 73 EACH packages, 32 EACH Dementia packages, HACC programs and other community care services).
