Month: August 2021

A list of new and updated resources – including apps, audio and video resources and other publications – about aged care.

Read more:

AN-ACC Shadow assessments – Frequently asked questions for providers (.pdf)

Restrictive practice use in aged care facilities – Overview (.pdf)

Types of restrictive practices (.pdf)

Informed consent for the use of restrictive practice (.pdf)

Steps to enter an aged care home (.pdf)

Your Guide to Short-Term Restorative Care Booklet (.pdf)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Grief and trauma support resources – Order form (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Priority access for Residential Aged Care Workers (.pdf)

How to get your COVID-19 Vaccination (.pdf)

The Department of Health, together with our medical experts and colleagues across the country, want to thank all workers across our aged care sector.

Every single day your professionalism and commitment to caring for senior Australians is appreciated.

Over the past 18 months in particular, through COVID-19 outbreaks and necessary pandemic restrictions, your diligence and dedication to caring for senior Australians, and their families and loved ones, has been simply inspiring. Your work has been extraordinary.

Read more:

Thank you to Australia’s aged care workers

Join Russell Kennedy to find out what you need to know about Asset Management Plans for retirement villages.

From 1 September 2021, retirement village operators must comply with the Retirement Villages Amendment (Asset Management Plans) Regulation 2021 (“the Regulation”).

In this webinar, our experienced retirement living team will provide an update on the compliance requirements introduced by the Regulation and how they may impact retirement village operations. Our team will provide practical insights into what operators can be doing now to manage and mitigate risks of non-compliance.

Webinar Details

• Date: Tuesday 17 August 2021
• Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM AEST

Read more:

NSW Retirement Living Webinar – Get your Assets in Gear

Register

The Department invites providers, consumers, sector representatives and other key stakeholders working in the aged care sector to complete an online survey about the Aged Care Quality Standards.

In addition, you can nominate to participate in an online focus group on the Quality Standards.

KPMG is conducting the survey and focus groups on behalf of the department to obtain feedback on the current Quality Standards, including the impact of the standards on consumers, providers and other key stakeholders.

The survey forms part of a broader evaluation of the Quality Standards.

How to participate:

The survey is open until midnight (AEST) on 3 September 2021 and only takes 15 minutes to complete.

Read more:

Survey: evaluation of the Aged Care Quality Standards

Evaluation of the Aged Care Quality Standards – Registration for focus groups

KPMG – Survey of the Aged Care Quality Standards

Please note the below advice provided by the Victorian Department of Health to support COVID-19 vaccination of residential aged care workers.

Currently there are priority bookings available across metropolitan and regional Victoria at both federal and state vaccination centres.

Individual Booking Options

All workers and residents in the residential aged care sector are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine (irrespective of age) and are able to access a priority booking to receive vaccination. Currently there are priority bookings available across metropolitan and regional Victoria at both federal and state vaccination centres.

Group Bookings

Registrations are now open for group bookings at Victorian vaccination centres. Residential aged care workers will be prioritised for group bookings. This provides a pathway for aged care workers to access vaccination as a group at one of the state vaccination centres.

Read more:

Vaccination for residents and workers in Victorian residential aged care facilities

Registration of Interest – Victorian COVID-19 Vaccine Group Bookings

Thank you to the large number of providers who have already responded to our survey on the sector’s current status and readiness for the new support at home program. Responses to date suggest providers are generally very positive about the reforms.

To ensure we continue to hear a broad range of provider perspectives, the survey end date has been extended to Friday 20 August 2021. Your input is valued and will help to inform program design and a strategy for change management and support.

Many providers have expressed interest in hearing the outcomes of this consultation process. If sufficient responses are received, the department will host a webinar for providers about the survey’s findings – so please take some time to complete the survey to ensure we have a robust picture to share.

Read more:

Home Care Reform: national provider survey

Survey of Aged Care Providers – July 2021 (.pdf)

In this edition:

• Single site funding support for COVID-19 impacted areas
• ACT Restrictions
• NSW Health – Updated advice
• QLD restrictions update and PPE use
• WA Health – Residential Aged Care Worker Vaccination webinar
• Support in the event of an outbreak
• Mental health supports
• Community Visitors Scheme

Read more:

Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 13 August 2021

In this edition:

• Single site workforce arrangements and funding support has been activated in the following areas in New South Wales
• Far North QLD restrictions

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Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 12 August 2021

The Australian Government is closely monitoring the situation across the country, particularly in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

Following the hotspot declaration in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) by the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, workers at residential aged care facilities in the ACT are asked to limit their work to a single facility to reduce the risk of transmission and protect workers and residents.

Australian Government grant funding is now available to support implementation of these arrangements in the above area for an initial two-week period from 12 August to 26 August 2021.

Read more:

Single site funding support for COVID-19 impacted areas in the Australian Capital Territory

Declaration of the Australian Capital Territory as a Hotspot for Commonwealth Support