Living Longer. Living Better.
Aged Care Reform Implementation Council - Terms of Reference
The Aged Care Reform Implementation Council will oversee delivery of the aged care reform package and provide independent advice to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP and the Department of Health and Ageing on the implementation of the aged care reforms.
August 2012
1. Purpose
The Aged Care Reform Implementation Council (the Council) is an independent body responsible for bringing together key stakeholders and experts int he aged care sector to help drive implementation and further development of aged care reforms.The Council has a key role in ensuring that the aged care reforms are implemented coherently and consistently and that strong and appropriate linkages are made between the reform elements to maximise the effect of the reforms for all stakeholders.
2. Functions
The primary function of the Council will be to provide advice, monitor, evaluate and report to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing on the progress of the reforms as they are implemented.The Council will monitor implementation objectives including that:
- quality services continue for older Australians and their families while the reforms are being implemented;
- service providers are responding to incentives and adjusting their operations and business models to adapt to new arrangements;
- risk is being appropriately managed for consumers, providers, and government;
- affected consumers, workers and providers are being appropriately informed of the changes at key deliverables and milestones; and
- the complex relationships between reform measures are being appropriately identified and managed by the department.
Sub-Groups
The Council may establish a series of expert Sub-Groups dedicated to specific elements of the aged care reform process. Sub-Groups would provide advice on key reform elements and assist to progress the implementation agenda. Terms of Reference for Sub-Groups will be agreed by the Council and formally recorded in the Council meeting minutes.Sub-Groups will report to the Council with the agenda set by the Council.
3. Membership & Quorum
The Council will be chaired by an independent person. The Council membership will consist of up to eight(8) people, independent of the aged care sector, that have specialist knowledge, skills, experience or expertise to inform the work of the Council.The Chair or nominee and at least three (3) Council members must be present for a quorum. A quorum of members must be present before a meeting can proceed.
The Chair should be advised of a member's inability to attend as soon as is practical to the scheduled meeting to enable the selection of a proxy from a proxy list.
Internal or external persons may be invited to attend the meetings at the request of the Chair on behalf of the Council to provide advice where necessary. They may be requested to leave the meeting at any time by the Chair.
Upon appointment, Members signed a 'Deed of Undertaking in relation to Confidential Information and Conflict of Interest', and are required to declare potential, perceived or actual conflicts for each meeting/issue being addressed. The Chair will agree if and how an actual or potential conflict of interest needs to be managed.
4. Frequency of Meetings and Deliverables:
The Council will meet quarterly or more frequently as required, and will report bi-annually to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing on progress of the reforms.Some decisions and consideration of issues will need to be made out of session by the Council.
Bi-Annual Report
The Council will prepare a bi-annual report to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing on progress with reforms.5. Performance and Review
Sub-Committees
The performance of Sub-Groups will be reviewed annually via a process to be determine by the Council. Any revisions will be proposed to the next meeting of the Council for approval.Top of page
