Month: June 2023

Approved providers must satisfy aged care worker screening requirements under the Aged Care Act (1997) (Cth) (the Act) and the Accountability Principles 2014, to ensure that persons with certain criminal convictions do not provide aged care.

On 16 June 2021, amendments were made to the Act to recognise a National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Screening Clearance Check (NDIS Check) for screening requirements in some circumstances.

The rules are different for approved providers that are also registered NDIS providers.

Read more:

Aged care worker screening requirements: when will NDIS Worker Screening Checks suffice?

News about the reforms:

• Minister Wells outlines the future of reform
• Aged Care Reform Roadmap has been released
• Webinar, Thursday 15 June: Aged care wage increase
• Government Provider Management System: New reporting apps coming soon
• Reminder: Consultation on the new model for regulating aged care closing soon

Sector news:

• Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the aged care sector: Q2, 2022 23
• Decommissioning fax for My Aged Care
• Release of the Nurse Practitioner Workforce Plan
• Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements Program
• Free event: People and perceptions in palliative care: Workforce insights
• Webinar: Greater transparency about aged care providers and services – new reporting requirements
• Dementia Training Australia: Behaviour and dementia
• Webinar: Elder abuse, dementia and decision-making capacity
• National Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program

For home care providers:

• CHSP providers: 2024-25 extension and recovering unspent grant funding

Read more:

Your Aged Care Update newsletter – Issue #2023/22 (.pdf)

The Australian Government will increase the Home Care Packages (HCP) subsidy rate by 11.9% (including annual indexation) from 1 July 2023 to pass on the Fair Work Commission’s 15% award wage increase and ensure HCP recipients continue to receive the same level of care and services.

All care recipients’ HCPs will increase by 11.9% to cover the cost of the wage rise for aged care workers, as well as other increases in prices. This increase is less than 15% to account for the fact that many care recipients use their HCP to access goods, equipment, allied health and home modifications, which are not impacted by the wage increase, alongside their nursing and personal care services.

Read more:

Home Care Packages subsidy rate to increase from 1 July 2023 to cover the cost of increased wages

The Australian Government has released the Aged Care Reform Roadmap to provide an indicative timeline for key reform elements.

Our aim is to help the sector understand what’s coming, be involved in reforms and prepare for the changes ahead to improve aged care.

The dates on the roadmap are subject to change and will be updated regularly to keep sector informed. The roadmap includes major reform elements, sector consultation activities, events and links to more information.

We continue to work closely with the aged care sector and older people in Australia.

We invite older people, families and carers, aged care providers and workers, researchers and experts to help us design changes to aged care, which will benefit everyone.

Watch:

Anika Wells MP: Ambition for Aged Care address at the National Press Club, 7 June 2023

Read more:

Minister for Aged Care and Sport – National Press Club – 7 June 2023

Aged care reform roadmap

News about the reforms:

• The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards have been updated
• IHACPA release of AN-ACC pricing advice

Sector news:

• How Dementia Support Australia can help
• Webinar: Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement
• Commission webinar: Stronger Standards, Better Aged Care Program
• Consultation open: Draft National Strategy for the Care and Support Economy
• Aged care workforce insights to support decision making
• Trauma-informed care and mental health resources
• Vision Australia webinar for RAS and ACAT assessors: Understanding low vision and blindness

For home care providers:

• Quarterly Financial Report: New requirements for Quarter 4 for home care providers

For residential care providers:

• Stocktake: Residential Aged Care Accommodation Design

Read more:

Your Aged Care Update newsletter – Issue #2023/21 (.pdf)

In this edition:

• 2023 COVID-19 Vaccine booster dose
• Study on effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for people over 65
• COVID-19 and flu
• How to get your 2023 COVID-19 booster
• Top 3 Questions from aged care COVID-19 Webinar on 26 May 2023
• COVID-19 Infection Control Online Training for aged care workers
• COVID-19 Oral antiviral treatments

Read more:

Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update 2 June 2023