Home > For Health Professionals > Aged care > Publications

Publications

Living Longer. Living Better. Aged Care Reform Update No. 4

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Aged Care Reform Update. This newsletter provides regular updates from the Department of Health and Ageing on the implementation of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package.

PDF printable version of Aged Care Reform Update - Fourth Edition (PDF 298 KB)

Living Longer. Living Better. Aged Care Reform Update No 4 – 14 September 2012

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Aged Care Reform Update. This newsletter provides regular updates from the Department of Health and Ageing on the implementation of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package.

National Aged Care Alliance Meeting

The National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) held a two day meeting in Adelaide on 30 and 31 August 2012. The Department and Minister Butler attended the second day of the meeting to provide members with an update on the implementation of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package and address questions raised by NACA on a range of topics. Topics discussed included the broader vision for the Gateway; the interface between the aged care reforms and the National Disability Insurance Scheme; the impact of the package on providers in regional, rural and remote areas; and the progressive implementation of Consumer Directed Care and new Home Care package levels.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Ageing and Aged Care Strategy

Minister Butler has committed to developing a LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy by the end of 2012. As part of the strategy development process, the Department has engaged the National LGBTI Health Alliance to facilitate consultations with stakeholders and will appoint a Steering Committee to provide advice on the consultation process. A draft strategy will be available on the Department’s website for public consultation in late September 2012. This consultation will be complemented by a number of stakeholder consultation sessions to be held around Australia throughout October 2012.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Aged Care Strategy

Minister Butler has also committed to developing a CALD Aged Care Strategy by the end of 2012. For this the Department has engaged the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia to facilitate consultations with stakeholders and will appoint a Steering Committee. A draft strategy will be available on the Department’s website for public consultation in early October 2012, with a number of stakeholder consultation sessions to be held around Australia throughout October 2012.

Aged Care Financing Authority

The Aged Care Financing Authority (the Authority) held a second meeting on 21 August 2012. The Authority’s third meeting was held in Sydney on 12 September 2012.

The Authority’s short-term deliverables include advice on the:

• appropriateness of the interim definition of the level of refurbishment required for an aged care home to be eligible for the higher level of the Accommodation Supplement;
• Authority’s Interim Operating Framework;
• methodology to govern the level (or levels) of the Accommodation Payments that an Approved Provider can levy on care recipients for entry to an aged care home from 1 July 2014; and
• methodology to ensure Lump Sum Accommodation Payments and Periodic Accommodation Payments are financially equivalent for providers.

Discussion papers have been sent to the aged care sector seeking feedback on the definition of significant refurbishment, the Interim Operating Framework and accommodation payments. Feedback regarding the definition of significant refurbishment closed on 31 August 2012 and feedback from the sector on the Interim Operating Framework closed on 12 September 2012. Comments on the two aspects of accommodation payments are due by 24 September 2012.

Aged Care Gateway Advisory Group

The Aged Care Gateway Advisory Group, a sub group of the Ageing Expert Advisory Group which is supported by NACA, met for the first time on 29 August 2012. The Group has been established to provide advice to the Government on the key design elements and implementation arrangements for the Aged Care Gateway. The Group will next meet in October 2012.

Specified Care and Services Reference Group

Another sub group established under the Ageing Expert Advisory Group will provide advice on the review of the Schedule of Specified Care and Services. This review is an important step towards the removal of the distinction between low care and high care. It also has the potential to allow providers to offer the option of additional services to residents on a fee for service basis. The Group met for the first time in Adelaide on Wednesday 29 August 2012.

Home Care Packages and Consumer Directed Care

The Home Care Packages/Consumer Directed Care working group has met via teleconference on 9 and 28 August and at a face to face workshop on 15 August and is providing advice to the Department on key design elements of the new Home Care packages and Consumer Directed Care. The Department will work further with this group and the broader sector over the coming months.

Aged Care Strategic Workforce Advisory Group

The Aged Care Strategic Workforce Advisory Group met for the sixth time on 12 September 2012 and continues to work on the Aged Care Workforce Compact. A final Compact will be presented to the Government for endorsement in September 2012. The Compact will address a number of workforce issues, including remuneration, training and skills development, career progression, flexible working arrangements, workplace health and safety, and productivity.

Top of page