THOSE affected by Frankston Council’s cuts to community and aged care services have completed their transitions to a new provider, Kingston Council’s AccessCare.
In late 2025, Frankston Council announced it would phase out multiple services, including personal care, domestic assistance including house cleaning and unescorted shopping, respite care, Home and Community Care Program for Younger People assessment services, meals on wheels and delivered meals for HACC-PYP clients, home maintenance and modifications including gutter cleaning, flexible service response, and social support individual escorted shopping. Kingston Council service provider AccessCare was later confirmed to be taking over selected Commonwealth Home Support Programme services, and Brotherhood of St. Laurence was appointed the new provider for the Home and Community Care Program for Younger People program (“New provider for council care services” The Times 23/6/2026).
The transition date for affected clients was at the start of July. Kingston Council issued a statement last week confirming that the transition had concluded.
“The City of Kingston would like to warmly welcome the former Frankston City Council clients to AccessCare. The transition of clients has been completed, with services to our new clients commencing from 1 July 2026,” Kingston Council said. “To our existing clients we would like to extend our thanks for your continued support through this period. Our aim has always been to minimise impact to you throughout the transition and to continue to provide the high-quality care and support you know and trust.
“To support the uninterrupted delivery of services for both existing and new clients, a detailed transition plan has ensured adequate resourcing through recruitment of a new team to ensure new clients can begin services from 1 July. Funding is supported by the Commonwealth Government. Therefore, this will not result in additional costs to City of Kingston residents.
“AccessCare remains committed to providing reliable, high-quality support to all clients.”
Frankston Council resolved to cease many of its care services in a confidential meeting last year. The decision came amid the federal government’s aged care reforms, which featured major changes to aged care funding.
In a statement issued after the decision last year, Frankston Council said its decision “aligns with national aged care reforms that are transforming how services are funded and delivered across Australia.”
“All clients and staff have been personally notified of council’s decision, with detailed information provided on what it means for their services or roles. Staff will be supported through this change, including opportunities for redeployment and upskilling. A dedicated community care transition team has been established to guide clients through the process, and all affected staff are being supported through internal redeployment opportunities and sector transition pathways,” Frankston Council said. (“Council confirms care cuts”, The Times 4/11/2026)
To contact AccessCare call 1300 819 200 or email info@accesscare.org.au.
First published in the Frankston Times – 14 July 2026