Published: March 23, 2020
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IMPORTANT: Manad Plus Help Desk Update (23/03/20)

As the requirements on businesses continue to change, we may in the future need to close our main office in Melbourne.

If this does eventuate, then we will notify you of the change via this regular eNews platform.

As Help Desk support staff would then be working remotely, we will have to move all support channels to ’email only’ via support@manad.com.au and no longer offer our landline of 1300 62 62 32. Our existing email support ticket system will continue to operate as this can be accessed remotely.

To ensure our Help Desk team can best support your staff when they are contacting us, please remember when emailing it makes it much easier to reply quickly and accurately when a screenshot is attached. This allows us to see where you are within Manad Plus and better understand what you are viewing. If we require further details, then we may request this or we will call you and then use TeamViewer so we can connect live to your PC and step through what you want to do.

If you are unsure how you can take a screenshot of what is on your screen, then you can generally do this via the PrtScn (Print Screen) key on your keyboard and then paste this into your email. There are also a variety of tools for screen captures where you can also add mark-ups, such as the ‘Snipping Tool’ built into most Windows PCs or the newer ‘Snip & Sketch’ application.

Finally, please don’t forget to include your email signature in ‘all’ replies, so we have quick and easy access to your key contact numbers.

Note: You may need to speak to your IT Administrator if you are unable to use these tools or if they are not installed.

See: Snip & Sketch

Published: March 22, 2020
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SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN WORKERS AND BUSINESS

The Commonwealth Government has today released the second stage of its economic plan to cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus and help build a bridge to recovery.

A total of $189 billion is being injected into the economy by all arms of Government in order to keep Australians in work and businesses in business.

This includes $17.6 billion for the Government’s first economic stimulus package, $90 billion from the RBA and $15 billion from the Government to deliver easier access to finance, and $66.1 billion in today’s economic support package.

Our economic support package includes:

• Support for households including casuals, sole-traders, retirees and those on income support
• Assistance for businesses to keep people in a job
• Regulatory protection and financial support for businesses to stay in business

Read more:

SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN WORKERS AND BUSINESS

PRESS CONFERENCE – AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT HOUSE, ACT – TRANSCRIPT – 22 Mar 2020

Published: March 20, 2020
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Aged Care Royal Commission suspends hearings and workshops

The Commissioners have decided to suspend all hearings and workshops for the time being, subject to ongoing review. This decision is a consequence of the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and based on information available from the Australian Government.

The Commissioners said this suspension would also apply to group consultations which have been part of the engagement work conducted by Royal Commission staff.

This decision will immediately affect all hearings and workshops currently scheduled until at least the end of May 2020.

The Commissioners are carefully considering the implications this decision will have on their continuing work program.

The Commissioners emphasise that the health and wellbeing of staff and those engaging with the Royal Commission is critically important. The Royal Commission’s future work program will be informed by public health advice.

In making this announcement, Commissioners said, “Meaningful engagement with the sector is paramount to the work of the Royal Commission’s inquiry into aged care quality and safety, which is why we have decided to suspend all hearings and workshops. We must allow service providers and Government to fully focus on their response to the pandemic.

The Commissioners recognise the substantial efforts being made by aged care service providers and health services, and their staff, in supporting the needs of older people during this crisis.

Read more:

Aged Care Royal Commission suspends hearings and workshops

Published: March 20, 2020
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COVID-19: Relaxation of student visa work

On 18 March 2019, the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, and the Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, jointly announced that providers of Commonwealth funded aged care services will temporarily be able to offer more hours to international students to ensure the care of senior and vulnerable Australians, as part of the campaign to combat the impact of coronavirus (COVID 19).

Read more:

COVID-19: Relaxation of student visa work

International students ready to fill critical staff shortages in aged care

‘Letter of Comfort’ from the Department of Home Affairs (.pdf)

Published: March 20, 2020
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Arrangements for CHSP providers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Department of Health recognises the ongoing efforts of CHSP service providers delivering care to older Australians at home and in communities during the COVID 19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Flexibility provisions

The flexibility provisions for 2019-20 and 2020-21 are being relaxed, allowing existing CHSP providers to transfer up to 100 per cent of their allocated funding between service types. Providers may only use flexibility provisions to transfer funding between already funded services. This does not extend to transferring funds between aged care planning regions (ACPRs). Requests to transfer funds between regions in exceptional circumstances must be approved by the department.

Read more:

Arrangements for CHSP providers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Published: March 20, 2020
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Assessment contact on preparing for COVID-19

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is currently contacting all approved providers of residential aged care services by telephone to monitor and support them in their preparation for a COVID-19 outbreak.

This assessment contact will involve a regulatory official from the Commission contacting the provider to discuss their responsibilities under the Aged Care Quality Standards and to provide details about important guidance material that has been released including the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia (CDNA) infection control guidelines and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) advice on visits to vulnerable groups including residential aged care services.

The telephone call is not an assessment of performance against the Standards. The call will take approximately 10 minutes and arrangements will be made to call back if the provider is busy at the time of the call.

In the coming days we will also be conducting a short online survey of all aged care residential services asking them key questions about their preparedness for COVID-19 based on the CDNA and AHPPC guidelines.

We will continue to adjust our regulatory response to the COVID-19 outbreak in line with the latest advice and guidance from the Department of Health and other health authorities.

We thank all approved providers for their ongoing efforts to protect older Australians at this critical time.

Read more:

Assessment contact on preparing for COVID-19

Assessment contact on preparing for COVID-19 – questions (.pdf)

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities (.pdf)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for public gatherings and visits to vulnerable groups – aged care facilities and visitors to residents

Published: March 20, 2020
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COVID-19: Supporting senior Australians and those who care for them

The National Cabinet today announced additional funding of $444.6 million for the aged care sector to ensure the continuity of the aged care workforce. The funding will be used to:

• Provide $234.9 million for a COVID-19 ‘retention bonus’ to ensure the continuity of the workforce for staff in both residential and home care.
• Provide $78.3 million in additional funding for residential care to support continuity of workforce supply.
• Provide $26.9 million to increase the residential and home care Viability Supplements and the Homeless Supplement (including increased viability payments for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program providers and Multi-Purpose Services).
• Deliver $92.2 million in additional support to home care providers and organisations which deliver the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, including for services such as meals on wheels.
• An extra $12.3 million to support the My Aged Care call centre to respond to the needs of older Australia.

Read more:

COVID-19: Supporting senior Australians and those who care for them

Measures to support Senior Australians and those who care for them (.pdf)

Published: March 20, 2020
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Indexation rates for Residential Aged Care and Home Care Packages and changes to the MPIR

An update of the schedules for residential and home care fees and charges, as well as subsidies and supplements will take effect from 20 March 2020. This is in line with changes to the basic age pension and indexation rates.

The Services Australia quarterly review of fees and charges for all care recipients will be effective from 20 March 2020. Care recipients and providers will receive letters letting them know if there is a change to a care recipient’s fees and charges or if a refund may be due.

Read more:

Indexation rates for Residential Aged Care and Home Care Packages and changes to the Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR)

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care (.pdf)

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Pre-1 July 2014 Residential and Home Care Recipients (.pdf)

Schedule of Subsidies and Supplements for Aged Care (.pdf)

Published: March 20, 2020
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Measures to support Senior Australians and those who care for them

Today the National Cabinet agreed on temporary funding to support Aged Care providers, residents, staff and families.

Building on the package of measures announced last week, additional funding of $444.6 million is expected to strengthen the industry, with specific mechanisms to reinforce the aged care workforce.

It will include:

• $234.9 million for a COVID-19 ‘retention bonus’ to ensure the continuity of the workforce for aged care workers in both residential and home care.
• This will mean a payment of up to $800 after tax per quarter – paid for two quarters – for direct care workers.
• Two payments of up to $600 after tax per quarter – for two quarters – for those who provide care in the home.
• Payments will be delivered to providers to pay their workers and part-time workers will be paid a pro-rata rate.
• $78.3 million in additional funding for residential care to support continuity of workforce supply.
• $26.9 million for a temporary 30 per cent increase to the Residential and Home Care Viability Supplements and the Homeless Supplement. This includes equivalent viability funding increases for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program providers, Multi-Purpose Services and homeless providers.
• $92.2 million in additional support to home care providers and organisations which deliver the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, operating services including meals on wheels. This will include services for people in self-isolation such as shopping and meal delivery.
• $12.3 million to support the My Aged Care service to meet the surge in aged care specific COVID-19 enquiries, allowing for additional staff to minimise call wait times.

Read more:

Measures to support Senior Australians and those who care for them

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