News

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

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Benefits of a COVID-19 booster vaccine for senior Australians (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Guidance for residential aged care providers on reporting resident and workforce COVID-19 vaccinations (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Guidance for in-home and community aged care providers on reporting workforce COVID-19 vaccinations (.pdf)

Aged Care Council of Elders – Council member profiles (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination data – In-home care vaccination rates (.xlsx)

COVID-19 vaccination – Commonwealth Home Support Programme workforce vaccination rates (.xlsx)

National summary of home care prices – September 2021 (.pdf)

Support at Home Program Overview – Summary for senior Australians, their family and carers (.pdf)

Updated COVID-19 guidance for NSW Aged Care Providers

Guidance for in-home and community aged care sub-contractors on mandatory reporting of the COVID-19 vaccination status of staff (.pdf)

The Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck together with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson, have today issued a joint letter to residential aged care providers to personally encourage all aged care residents and staff to get their COVID booster vaccination.

There are several options available for approved providers to access boosters for residents and staff:

• Commonwealth in-reach vaccination clinics
• self-managed clinics by providers
• local health service in-reach vaccination (where available)
• individual resident GPs or onsite primary care clinics
• through community pharmacies.

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COVID-19 vaccination boosters in residential aged care facilities

The Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck together with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson, issued a joint letter to residential aged care providers to personally encourage all aged care residents and staff to get their COVID booster vaccination.

Read more:

Minister and Commissioner’s letter to residential approved providers – COVID-19 vaccination boosters in residential aged care services (.pdf)

This Incident Management Guide consolidates best practice approaches based on literature reviews and the Australian states’ and territories’ incident management policies.

This guide provides the healthcare workforce with a concise overview of the incident management process and its underlying principles.

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Incident management guide (.pdf)

COVID Information update

• Booster clinics for residential aged care: Commonwealth vaccine administrators will contact you to confirm your in-reach service
• Rapid Antigen Testing
• PCR Testing and management of close contacts and positive cases
• Staff furlough policies
• Private hospital arrangements
• Australian Government support during an outbreak

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COVID Information update – Department of Health

In this edition:

• Commissioner’s message
• Creating a quality experience for aged care residents
• Governing for Reform in Aged Care
• Are vitamins included in the polypharmacy quality indicator?
• New safety protocols for field visits
• COVID-19 update – Outbreak preparedness and vaccinations for home services workers
• Have your say on how we communicate with the home services sector
• From the Chief Clinical Advisor – Summer alert
• Alis – the year in review
• New and updated Commission resources

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Aged Care Quality Bulletin #36 – December 2021

Did you know there is a direct connection between style of governance, culture and leadership and the quality and safety of care received by older Australians?

As aged care leaders you have a role in a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build your team’s confidence and expertise in leading sector transformation.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has launched a new initiative for aged care boards and executives to set the agenda for change investing in the skills, mindsets and capabilities to govern for reform.

Register now to find out how you can be involved in leading and rebuilding trust in the aged care sector.

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Governing for reform in aged care

Complete a survey here

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

Read more:

COVID-19 in Aged Care: Infection Prevention Control (IPC) (.pdf)

COVID-19 booster vaccination information for residential aged care workers (.pdf)

COVID-19 booster vaccination information for residents of aged care facilities (.pdf)

Commonwealth Permissions and Restrictions for Workers in Aged Care – Interim Guidance (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Guidance for residential aged care providers on reporting resident and workforce COVID-19 vaccinations (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – What to expect on COVID-19 vaccination day at your residential aged care facility (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Consent guidance material for residential aged care (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Vaccine doses policy (.pdf)

Frequently asked questions on mandatory vaccination and reporting for in-home and community aged care providers (.pdf)

Booster vaccination Information kit for residential aged care providers (.pdf)

Scope of vaccine services for the residential aged care booster program (.pdf)

2021 Basic Daily Fee Supplement (.pdf)

Aged care funding instrument (ACFI) monitoring report – September 2021 (.pdf)

Instrument to determine the number transition care places available for allocation in 2021-22 and 2022-23 (.pdf)

Development of Aged Care Quality Indicators – Summary Report (.pdf)

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission new and updated resources.

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New consumers and restrictive practices – fact sheet (.pdf)

Notice of collection (.pdf)

Consumer engagement in aged care – Survey report (.pdf)

ACQSC Consumer engagement in aged care – Literature review (.pdf)

Working with aged care consumers – Resource (.pdf)

Reporting serious incidents: Practical tips for providers when making a notification (.pdf)

Reporting serious incidents: Using a problem solving approach to enhance effective incident management (.pdf)

Sector Performance Data: 1 July to 30 September 2021 (.pdf)

What we learned from COVID-19 outbreaks in 2021 – fact sheet (.pdf)

SIRS provider roundtable outcomes summary (December 2021) (.pdf)

The Australian Government recognises the hard work of the in-home and community aged care sector throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and their continued efforts to provide necessary services to senior Australians to stay safely in their homes.

The Government is taking action to ensure adequate supply of Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) for the community including those providing and receiving in-home care. The Government continues to assess the need for additional measures for high risk groups in light of the current Omicron outbreak.

Providers may choose to conduct testing of direct care home care workers as part of their COVID Safe plan, to ensure the ongoing provision of safe care for senior Australians. Home Care Package (HCP) providers who test home care workers can access support to cover the costs of purchasing RAT kits for this purpose.

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Rapid Antigen Tests for Home Care Packages Program