News

From 1 January 2022, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 testing in Victoria under the aged care program operated by Sonic Healthcare and its subsidiary pathology providers (e.g. Melbourne Pathology) will continue to operate with clinical oversight from either a medical practitioner, the Public Health Unit (PHU) or the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC) for residential aged care facilities that have a COVID-19 outbreak, a Case Exposure or are located within a designated area of high COVID-19 risk as declared.

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Changes to routine asymptomatic PCR testing of Victorian aged care workers

Dear Board Chair and CEO of approved providers of aged care,

Invitation to register your interest

Effective leadership and governance are essential for ensuring the safety and quality of care provided to older Australians, and for delivering quality aged care experiences. These leadership qualities are equally vital as enablers of change and for driving improvements in the practice and outcomes of care.

I am pleased to offer you an opportunity to participate in a specialised development program, ‘Governing for Reform in Aged Care’, aimed at supporting members of governing bodies and senior leaders of all aged care providers to advance the current reforms in aged care. This offer is available to you irrespective of the corporate status, size or location of your service(s).

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Letter – Commissioner to providers – Governing for Reform Program – 20 December 2021 (.pdf)

The Morrison Government today launches an education program to help aged care providers strengthen organisational governance and leadership.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said strong leadership within the sector is critical for driving the cultural change required for high-quality levels of care.

The “Governing for Reform in Aged Care” education program is an important component of the Government’s once-in-a-generation aged care reform plan aimed at supporting providers to fulfil responsibilities to consumers.

“The Government recognises the importance of strong leadership and governance to drive the cultural change required to support the reforms in aged care,” Minister Colbeck said.

“This education program is an investment in our future aged care system and will enhance leadership and governance skills across the sector.

“All aged care providers need to review their current practices to ensure they are ready to embrace the future”.

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Strengthening leaders and governance across aged care

Single site workforce arrangements are one of the many infection control measures which have worked to help limit transmission of COVID-19.

On the advice of the A/g Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sonya Bennett, in consultation with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the Victorian Chief Health Officer, it is now appropriate for residential aged care providers in Victoria to commence transitioning out of single site arrangements.

This transition should occur over the next two weeks, with the end of single site employment on 3 December 2021, after which time workers can return to usual working arrangements.

Providers are reminder to stay informed with local public health measures, including those set out in the Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions (No 57) in Victoria.

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Single site workforce arrangements are ending in Victoria on 3 December 2021

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission new and updated resources.

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RB 2021-14: Change in service ownership (.pdf)

Cost Recovery Implementation Statement – Applications for aged care approved provider status 2021–22 (.pdf)

Aged Care Approved Provider Applicant Guide (.pdf)

Self-Assessment Tool – Quality Standards (v1.5) (.docx)

Self-Assessment Guidance – Quality Standards (v1.5) (.pdf)

Combined Self-Assessment Tool and Plan for Continuous Improvement (v1.2) (.xlsx)

RB 2021-15: Plan for continuous improvement requirements (.pdf)

With catheter form – Clinical pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections (.pdf)

Without catheter form – Clinical pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections (.pdf)

Regulatory Bulletin – Serious Risk

To Dip or Not to Dip: case-based education presentation (.zip)

The department is seeking feedback on aligning regulation and developing a common code of conduct, across the care and support sectors.

Aligning Regulation

The Australian Government is taking a staged approach to align regulation across the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), disability services, aged care and veterans’ care.

Aligning regulation will strengthen quality and safety for participants and consumers. It will also be easier for service providers and workers to deliver services across sectors.

There are various ways to provide input, including written submissions, online surveys, and online workshop participation. We invite consumers, families, carers, workers, providers and the broader community to have their say.

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Have your say: Care and support sector consultations

You can now view the 2020-21 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 (ROACA) on the GEN Aged Care Data website.

Each year this report provides an important overview of Australia’s aged care system and details its operation over the previous financial year. This year’s ROACA also includes detail about the challenges faced by senior Australians and the aged care sector in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the critical interventions made by government to respond to those challenges.

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Aged Care Alert: 2020-21 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997

2020–21 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 (.pdf)

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

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2020–21 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 (.pdf)

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

Aged care funding reforms webinar

Guide to Combining Aged Care Services (.pdf)

Notice to Transfer Aged Care Places to Another Provider (.pdf)

Managing home care through COVID-19

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

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

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

COVID-19 vaccination – Proof of employment letter for in-home and community aged care workers (.pdf)

How in-home and community aged care workers can provide your COVID-19 vaccination status to your employer (.pdf)

Australian Government response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport report (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccine booster rollout in residential aged care (video)

Information kit to support COVID-19 vaccination of in-home and community aged care workers (.pdf)

Understanding fees for aged care homes (.pdf)

Understanding fees for residential respite care (.pdf)

Understanding fees for home care (.pdf)

The safety and well-being of aged care residents and staff remains a priority, as the Australian Government continues to work with states and territories and the aged care sector to transition to living with COVID 19.

To assist with the COVID-19 emergency, the Government is encouraging residential aged care providers who have capacity to admit people being discharged from hospital where possible.

The Government is working with states and territories to ensure their public hospital systems are equipped to deal with any increase in hospitalisations as COVID-19 restrictions are eased in coming months.

As part of this it will be important that older Australians in hospital who will need ongoing residential care when they are discharged, are able to access care in a timely manner.

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Residential aged care admissions during COVID 19

In this edition:

• Hospital Discharge and Provision of Commonwealth Home Support to COVID Patients
• FREE 1-2-1 Sessions with an Emergency/Crisis Management Practitioner
• SA Health – updated flowchart for COVID Management in SA RACFs
• Webinars: My Aged Care Reporting and Home Care and CHSP Vaccination
• My Aged Care Reporting – Virtual Tour of Vaccination Reporting
• #ProudToProtect – Home Care and CHSP Worker Vaccination
• REMINDER: WA and TAS webinars for In-home and Community Aged Care Workers
• Western Australia – Tuesday 30 November
• Tasmania – Wednesday 1 December

Read more:

Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 29 November 2021