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Aged Care Assessment Teams

Dissemination of Information and Materials Policy

Relevant policies for the Aged Care Assessment Program (ACAP) developed in consultation with the Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments.

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The community’s trust in Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) is a key asset to the Australian Government and state and territory governments. It is important that in fulfilling their duties, ACATs operate within a framework that guides and informs work practices so as to assure quality of service.

This paper sets out the Dissemination of Information and Materials Policy, describing how information and materials should be selected, maintained and distributed by ACATs.

Introduction

It is a fundamental object of aged care legislation of the Commonwealth that aged care services be funded according to quality and appropriateness of care, and be provided to care recipients according to their needs. Therefore, in delivering aged care program services, it is important to each participant in the program to maintain its reputation as an impartial provider of information, without favouring particular suppliers of products and services.

ACAT members have an important role as information providers. ACATs are engaged in the delivery of services on behalf of the Australian Government and State and Territory governments. However, in the interests of assuring impartial dissemination of quality information, ACATs are not in a position to make commitments to distribute or endorse the products, services or promotional materials of particular service providers or to refer clients exclusively to a particular service provider.

It is important that information received from service providers is considered on its merits by ACATs. It may be used or disseminated in conjunction with program service delivery, without commitment to do so, if its content is consistent with program objectives and compliant with the law.

An important outcome of the comprehensive assessment of prospective aged care recipients conducted by ACATs is their referral to services that are appropriate and available to meet the client’s needs and preferences. Inherent in this, is the provision of quality information that will assist the client to make an informed choice.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear guidance to ACATs for the selection and dissemination of materials and provision of information to clients.

This policy document includes:

• explanation of criteria for clearing materials for dissemination to clients; and
• relevant disclaimers to be attached by ACATs to materials cleared for dissemination.

This policy is relevant for materials and information disseminated by ACATs during the course of a comprehensive assessment of a prospective aged care recipient.

Clearance criteria

In determining the appropriateness of materials for dissemination by ACATs, all materials should be reviewed by the ACAT Manager or the Manager’s delegate prior to distribution, and at regular intervals, to ensure accuracy, relevance, currency, and consistency with this policy. The following criteria have been developed to assist ACATs in this process.

1. Relevant to target audience

The resource materials must provide information which is informative and useful to the target audience, that is, people aged 70 years and over (or 50 years and over for Indigenous clients).

2. Up-to-date

The information must be up-to-date.

The ACAT should emphasise, to information-providers, the importance of maintaining a supply of up-to-date information and replacing outdated materials.

3. Contact point

Contact details for requesting further information or providing feedback on materials must be included on materials.

The ACAT also should promptly relay any negative feedback it receives about the information it disseminates to the information-provider (respecting any requests for anonymity) and take any remedial action that may be required.

4. An existing partnership with the Government

If the organisation that has produced the material has an existing relationship in working with any Government Department, the validity of the use of the material is supported. An existing relationship means an existing partnership, under either a memorandum of understanding or a funding agreement, with a Government Department.

Where unsure, ACATs should not accept claims of a working relationship with Government at face value and should independently verify such claims with the relevant Government Department(s) before accepting materials for dissemination.

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5. Associated with a peak body

Materials that are sponsored by, or supported by, a reputable organisation should normally be accepted, unless the content raises doubts as to whether it complies with the law (for instance, statutory licensing requirements for financial advisers, and statutes prohibiting misleading or deceptive conduct). A reputable organisation is one that is experienced and recognised as an authority in its field in Australia, for example, a peak body or central association in the relevant field, whether representing industry, consumer or other relevant (non-political) interests.

If unsure, ACATs should not accept claims of sponsorship or approval of a reputable organisation at face value and should independently verify such claims with the relevant organisation before accepting materials for dissemination.

6. Commercial organisations

ACATs should not enter into any partnership or other arrangement with a commercial organisation to disseminate materials or promote a particular organisation. ACATs may decide to provide information about a commercial organisation but in doing so should review the level and type of advertising contained in such materials.

If the level is low and any advertising materials are clearly identifiable as advertising material, and the material meets all other criteria, it should normally be accepted, unless the content raises doubts as to whether it complies with the law.

For materials that maintain a high level of advertising, the ACAT must be satisfied that the material is directly relevant to the needs of a care recipient (for instance, advertises relevant aged care facilities); and, where particular commercial organisations are named, that the client is aware that other organisations offering similar services exist. Most importantly the client should be made aware that the ACAT is not endorsing a particular service or organisation (see disclaimers).

Disclaimers

To protect the Australian Government, State and Territory governments and ACATs, all information and materials provided should include a disclaimer that addresses the following points:

• ACATs provide information for the convenience of potential care recipients and this should not be taken to be an endorsement of any associated organisation, product or service. ACATs do not accept liability for reliance on that information.
• It is the responsibility of the potential care recipient to make her or his own decision as to whether information contained in any material is appropriate to the person’s own circumstances.

Commitment to this policy

It is in the interests of ACATs, the Australian Government, state and territory governments and the Australian community that participants in the program delivered through ACATs maintain this policy in their day-to-day operations in order to make available unbiased information of high quality to prospective recipients of aged care.

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