News

Published by: Victor Harcourt, Solomon Miller, Anita Courtney, Connor Farrell

As part of the federal government’s response to the Aged Care Royal Commission, a second update of legislative amendments have been proposed. The Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 2) Bill 2021 (the Bill), which passed through the House of Representatives last year, will make changes to eight key areas, including the governance of approved providers (APs), the screening of aged care workers and governing persons of APs, a new code of conduct, and the extension of incident management and reporting.

While the Bill, if passed, will make changes to a wide range of areas, this article focuses only on the proposed changes to the governance requirements relating to the governing bodies and key personnel of APs as well as new powers of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner (Commissioner) to request information relating to refundable deposits or accommodation bonds (RADs) used to make loans.

Read more:

New governance and accountability requirements for approved providers

The department has developed additional fact sheets to help providers of Assistance with Care and Housing, Sector Support and Development and Specialised Support Services understand and prepare for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) 2022 23 extension and transition to the Support at Home Program from 1 July 2023.

These fact sheets will be distributed to providers shortly as part of their indicative letter of offer for the 2022 23 extension.

The fact sheets are now also published on the department’s website:

• CHSP fact sheet – Assistance with Care and Housing providers
• CHSP fact sheet – Sector Support and Development providers
• CHSP fact sheet – Specialised Support Services providers

Read more:

Aged Care Alert: CHSP 2022-23 extension: Fact sheets available

CHSP fact sheet – Assistance with Care and Housing providers (.pdf)

CHSP fact sheet – Sector Support and Development providers (.pdf)

CHSP fact sheet – Specialised Support Services providers (.pdf)

NSW Health released new guidance for testing protocols for NSW residential aged care facilities (RACFs) with a COVID-19 outbreak or exposure. The purpose of the protocol is to provide a clear framework for testing requirements.

NSW Health may provide specific testing directions for COVID-19 exposures or outbreaks in residential aged care. However, the testing protocol provides a guidance framework to support RACFs to actively self-manage their testing requirements.

Consistent with the recent National Cabinet decision in relation to PCR testing requirements, the testing protocol makes recommendations in relation to both PCR testing and Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT).

Read more:

NSW Health releases new guidance for COVID testing protocols in RACFs

NSW Health – Protocol for RAT and PCR testing in residential aged care

Key information on some of this evolving work is set out below:

• Booster clinics for residential aged care
• Updated interim guidance for the aged care workforce
• PPE and Rapid Antigen Tests for outbreak sites
• Update on SONIC testing services
• Reporting on workers’ booster shots to become mandatory

Read more:

Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 7 January 2022

Applications are open for the Business Improvement Fund Round 2 through GrantConnect.

To be eligible, providers must include independent business advice as part of their application either from:

• our free, independent and confidential Business Advisory Service, apply by 21 January 2022, or
• another business advisory service.

Alternatively, outcomes from the department’s Aged Care Financial Monitoring and Business Assistance team can be used.

Read more:

Aged Care Alert: Business Improvement Fund Round 2 – include independent advice

The Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has approved an interim framework to support safe assessment and decision making when determining whether to place work restrictions on residential aged care workers. The framework supports decisions based on the context of the exposure low-risk (social contact), high-risk (household or household like), and workplace exposure.

This guidance follows the updated advice on the definition of contacts issued by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (here). The changes should assist in managing workforce, noting the challenges many providers are facing given the increasing number of cases in the community.

Read more:

Update – Interim Guidance on managing workforce in regards to COVID-19 in residential aged care facilities

The Australian Government is providing access to rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to Commonwealth-subsidised residential aged care facilities, Multi-purpose services and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program services in areas of high prevalence of COVID-19.

Distribution of the RAT kits to NSW, QLD, ACT, VIC and SA is expected to commence in early 2022. Details on distribution arrangements and testing protocols will be provided shortly.

RAT kits will be distributed to TAS and NT in the event of widespread COVID-19 transmission. In the meanwhile, any outbreak sites in these jurisdictions will receive RATs as part of the Commonwealth’s response.

Read more:

Access to Rapid Antigen Testing kits for all residential aged care facilities

Dear approved provider of residential services,

Operating in a COVID-normal environment over the holiday period Holidays provide important additional opportunities for older people, including aged care residents, to enjoy spending time with friends and family and taking part in activities in the community. The pandemic does not alter this fact.

It is up to providers to manage and mitigate COVID-19 risks to aged care residents, including the risks that isolation poses to their physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Face-to-face get togethers between residents, family members and friends should be facilitated where they can be undertaken safely and are permitted under public health orders.

In determining arrangements for visitors entering the service, and for residents travelling from and returning to the service, providers should start with a risk assessment. This will inform decisions about measures to be implemented that will maximise the opportunity for residents to take part in social activities as safely as possible.

Read more:

Letter – Commissioner to residential approved providers – Being prepared for a COVID-19 outbreak – 22 December 2021 (.pdf)

News about the reforms:

• Additional $632.6 million investment to improve aged care

Other news:

• Thank you and looking forward to 2022
• Operational hours over the holiday period
• Centre for Growth and Translational Research
• Updates to the My Aged Care website
• Supporting veterans in aged care
• Services Australia Aged Care Quarterly Review 15 January 2022

For residential care providers:

• Apply now: Business Improvement Fund Round 2

For home care providers:

• Improved payment arrangements: Home care claim tips

Read more:

Information for the Aged Care Sector Newsletter – Issue #2021/24 (.pdf)

We continue to live with COVID-19, state borders are opening and more people are travelling to visit their loved ones. Facilitating safe visitation and open communication with residents and their families and representatives is crucial.

• Visitors to Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF)
• Communicating with family during an outbreak

Read more:

Being prepared – visitors and communication with families during an outbreak

National COVID-19 Residential Aged Care Emergency Communication Guide (.pdf)

Aged care facilities – establishing communications (.pdf)