News

News about the reforms

• Have your say on the new Aged Care Act
• The strengthened Quality Standards – final draft now published
• Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner announced

Sector news

• Quarterly Financial Report application available
• New Integrated Assessment Tool
• Aged Care Quality and Safety Advisory Council
• Keeping vulnerable people safe during heatwaves
• Calculating cost of care forms
• Study into the wellbeing of older people
• Up to Standard – video episode released

Residential care

• Updated Star Ratings now published
• Emergency leave extended
• January 2024 schedules of fees and charges
• Quality Indicator reporting opens
• Residents’ Experience Survey
• Quality improvement – share your success stories

Read more:

Your Aged Care Update: Issue 49

A year on from its introduction, Aged Care Star Ratings has revealed a significant improvement in the quality of aged care homes across Australia.

Within 12 months, the number of aged care homes with 4 and 5 stars has substantially improved. 1,329 homes (54 per cent) are now delivering good or excellent care (4 and 5 stars) which is an increase of 352 since December 2022. That’s a 15 per cent improvement.

Aged care homes that need improvement have decreased. 54 homes or 2 per cent are now receiving 1 and 2 stars, which is a decrease of 152 since this time last year.

Offering access to previously unavailable data, Star Ratings gives a comprehensive view of aged care home performance. It helps older people, their families and carers compare like for like services and encourages providers to embrace a culture of continuous improvement.

Read more:

One-year on – Star Ratings highlights improved aged care

This report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 (the Act) meets the requirement of section 63–2 of the Act that the Minister present to Parliament a report on the operation of the Act for each financial year. This report shows the operation of the Act during 2022–23.

Read more:

2022–23 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 (.pdf)

Thank you for your patience while we resolved a data transmission issue between Services Australia and the department.

The issue has now been fixed and the Star Ratings provider preview has resumed. We encourage residential aged care providers to log in to GPMS to preview your Star Ratings before 7 December.

The data transmission issue also meant care minutes targets published on our website for some aged care services were out by a small margin. The majority of care minutes targets have changed by less than 1 minute. This issue has not impacted funding.

Read more:

Issue resolved: Star Ratings provider preview and care minutes targets

The Department has released the new ‘Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care’ for 01 JAN 2024.

The key rates are:

Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR)

• 1 January 2024 – 31 March 2024: 8.38%

Base Interest Rate (BIR)

• 1 January 2024 – 31 March 2024: 2.25%

Read more:

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care – from 1 January 2024 (.pdf)

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Pre-1 July 2014 Residential and Home Care Recipients – from 1 January 2024 (.pdf)

Base interest rate (BIR) and maximum permissible interest rate (MPIR) for residential aged care (.pdf)

This document provides the final draft of the strengthened Quality Standards which will be drafted into legislation under the new Aged Care Act, which is planned to commence from 1 July 2024.

We developed a strengthened set of Quality Standards that address recommendations 19 to 21 of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The strengthened Quality Standards are:

• Standard 1: The Person
• Standard 2: The Organisation
• Standard 3: The Care and Services
• Standard 4: The Environment
• Standard 5: Clinical Care*
• Standard 6: Food and Nutrition
• Standard 7: The Residential Community

Read more:

The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Final draft (November 2023) (.pdf)

In this edition:

• Commissioner’s message
• Aged care reforms update
• Food, nutrition and dining
• Governing for reform
• Training and resources

Read more:

Aged Care Quality Bulletin #60 – December 2023

This collection includes fact sheets about various aspects of the proposed new Aged Care Act.

The new Act will be introduced to Parliament in 2024, with a further amendment Bill introduced to establish the Support at Home program to start in 2025.

Webinar:

Webinar – December 14: New Aged Care Act and Support at Home program update

Consultation papers:

A new Aged Care Act: exposure draft – Consultation paper no. 2 (.pdf)

A new Aged Care Act: exposure draft – Consultation paper no. 2 summary – Plain English version (.pdf)

Exposure draft – Aged Care Bill 2023 (.pdf)

Diagrams:

The new Aged Care Act – What’s new? What’s different? (.pdf)

Aged care system governance under the draft new Aged Care Act (.pdf)

Making a nominee arrangement under the draft new Aged Care Act (.pdf)

Who will be able to access aged care under the draft new Aged Care Act (.pdf)

A stronger aged care regulator under the draft new Aged Care Act (.pdf)

Phases of aged care reform (.pdf)

A rights-based approach under the draft new Aged Care Act (.pdf)

Upholding the rights of older people under the draft new Aged Care Act (.pdf)

Aged care services model under the draft new Aged Care Act (.pdf)

Whistleblower protections under the draft new Aged Care Act (.pdf)

Frequently asked questions:

A new Aged Care Act – Frequently asked questions (.pdf)

Webinar slides:

New Aged Care Act and Support at Home program update – webinar slides – 14 December 2023 (.pdf)

Ms Andrea Kelly has been named as the interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner. She is a much-respected First Nations leader and brings 32 years’ experience engaging with First Nations communities and developing public policy.

‘I am delighted to accept the role of Interim Commissioner and for the opportunity to advocate for and work directly with First Nations people regarding their aged care needs.’

Ms Kelly is a proud Warumungu and Larrakia woman, with strong family connections throughout the Northern Territory.

The interim Commissioner will be engaging with First Nations communities and stakeholders on the design and functions of a permanent Commissioner role, including where it is located.

Read more:

Announcement of interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner

Sector news

• Fourth Quarterly Financial Snapshot of approved providers released
• Webinar recording: Publishing provider reporting
• Changes to Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program
• Aged Care Wages – Historical Leave Liability Grant Opportunity

Residential care

• Reminder to keep your accommodation deposit approvals up to date
• Care minute targets for January to March 2024
• Quality Indicator program – new template
• New places to people guide – Preparing for a more competitive market
• COVID-19: Keeping aged care residents connected
• Submit your payment claim to Services Australia by 15 December

In-home care

• Fair Work Commission Home Care Packages Supplementation Grant

Workforce

• Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payments Round 2
• Maggie Beer Foundation: New online training modules
• Micro training course: Culturally inclusive service delivery

Read more:

Your Aged Care Update: Issue 48