News

In this edition:

• Single site workforce arrangements and funding support has been activated in the following areas in New South Wales
• Far North QLD restrictions

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Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 12 August 2021

The Australian Government is closely monitoring the situation across the country, particularly in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

Following the hotspot declaration in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) by the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, workers at residential aged care facilities in the ACT are asked to limit their work to a single facility to reduce the risk of transmission and protect workers and residents.

Australian Government grant funding is now available to support implementation of these arrangements in the above area for an initial two-week period from 12 August to 26 August 2021.

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Single site funding support for COVID-19 impacted areas in the Australian Capital Territory

Declaration of the Australian Capital Territory as a Hotspot for Commonwealth Support

In this edition:

• Lessons from recent outbreaks in RACFs – what you can do now that will help
• NSW Health update
• Victoria – Update on restrictions
• WA – Directions for RACFs
• SA Health updated directions
• Reminder – Survey to evaluate the Aged Care COVID-19 Grief and Trauma supports

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Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 11 August 2021

Australia’s personal care workforce is being strengthened and increased under a $91.8 million Morrison Government initiative helping older people live at home for longer.

In another comprehensive response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Home Care Workforce Support Program will help administrators attract, train and retain approximately 13,000 new personal care workers by mid-2023.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the program would rapidly increase the number and skills of people providing aged care in the home.

“The grants will support the employment of 6000 new personal care workers in 2021-22 and 7000 more in the following year, including an increase in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander personal care workers,” Minister Hunt said.

“They will ensure new and existing personal care workers have the skills and support required to provide quality aged care services to all seniors who need them.”

It will also improve links with the training and recruitment, helping the broader aged care sector, including residential care, boost its work pool.

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Expansion of home care workforce underway

Current Grant Opportunity View – GO4990

In this edition:

• NSW Home Care Update
• QLD residential Aged Care update: Movement of healthcare, aged care, and disability workers
• Single site funding support for COVID-19 impacted areas in QLD
• 2021 Census – Residential Aged Care Facilities
• DVA clients and emergency leave during COVID-19
• ACT Health

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Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 10 August 2021

The Morrison Government today recognises the extraordinary contribution of aged care employees across Australia.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said August 7 marked Aged Care Employee Day – an important opportunity to say thanks to more than 360,000 workers across the sector.

“Our aged care employees at every level work tirelessly to ensure the safety and quality of care of senior and vulnerable Australians,” Minister Colbeck said.

“These are people who never discriminate and always put the care and wellbeing of others at the forefront.

“It is the kind of dedication that deserves recognition.

“To all those employees we say thank you for providing the respect, care and dignity senior Australians deserve”.

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Acknowledging Australia’s aged care employees

The Australian Government is closely monitoring the situation across the country, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria.

Single site workforce arrangements and funding support extensions
In recognition of the extended COVID-19 hotspot declaration from the Australian Government Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd, single site workforce arrangements and Australian Government support funding is being extended to 11 September for all local government areas across Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

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Single site funding support extended for COVID-19 impacted areas in New South Wales and Victoria

Additional resources have been released on the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program.

Watch:

The National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program) Webinar

Read more:

National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program Manual 2.0 – Part C (.pdf)

Quick Reference Guide – Falls and Major Injury (.pdf)

Quick Reference Guide – Unplanned Weight Loss (.pdf)

Quick Reference Guide – Pressure Injuries (.pdf)

Quick Reference Guide – Physical Restraint (.pdf)

Quick Reference Guide – Medication Management – Polypharmacy (.pdf)

Quick Reference Guide – Medication Management – Antipsychotics (.pdf)

QI Program file upload template (.xlsx)

Phase 2 of the Improved Payment Arrangements (IPA) will start from 1 September 2021. This means home care providers will receive funding based on the actual services delivered to their care recipients.

To get ready for IPA Phase 2 you should:

• make sure your claims are up to date with Services Australia:
• submit claims in sequential order (e.g. you must submit a claim for January before you claim for February)
• only one claim can be finalised per day
• submit $0 claims for those months you haven’t provided care to any care recipients
• reconcile the Commonwealth unspent amount for departed care recipients, and continue to report this to Services Australia
• make sure your systems and processes are in place to track and report the value of care and services delivered for each care recipient
• reconcile the Commonwealth portion of unspent funds you are currently holding for each care recipient as at 31 August 2021.

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Are you ready for Improved Payment Arrangements?

Improved payment arrangements for home care

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

Read more:

Ninth Report on the Funding and Financing of the Aged Care Industry – July 2021 (.docx)

COVID-19 vaccination – Scope of VAS Provider in-reach and static clinics (.pdf)

Disability Support for Older Australians Program manual (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Practice incentive payment – in-reach residential aged care and disability support worker COVID-19 vaccination (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Shared decision making guide for frail older people, including those in residential aged care facilities (.pdf)

Discontinuation of the ACAR – What’s next? (.pdf)

2020 ACAR results: Short-term restorative care (STRC) (.pdf)

2020 ACAR results: Residential aged care places and capital grants (.pdf)

2020 ACAR: Feedback for applicants (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Find out the facts about COVID-19 vaccinations (.pdf)

COVID-19 – changes to Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) flexibility provisions (.pdf)

COVID-19 – emergency funding for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers (.pdf)