Draft legislation for review: Increasing transparency of provider information
We are improving the information about aged care providers that is available to older people and their representatives. This information will increase transparency of providers’ operations, including how much is spent on care in residential services, to help people make more informed choices about their care.
Draft legislation is now available for review, with comments due by Tuesday 16 May. This legislation will enable the department to publish certain information about the operations of providers of residential care and home care.
These changes are part of broader reforms to strengthen provider governance and provide care recipients with more information about aged care providers.
Work is underway to avoid duplicative reporting process for providers to ensure efficient reporting of information.
Visit the Strengthening provider governance in aged care webpage for more information.
New booklets available on reforming aged care in Australia
Two new booklets on reforming aged care in Australia are available for you to download and order for free from the department’s website. These include:
- Reforming aged care in Australia – for older people and their families and carers
- Working in aged care in Australia – for aged care workers.
These resources can help older people using your aged care services, as well as their families and carers, or your staff, learn more about the aged care reforms and how they might impact them.
Both booklets feature stories showing how both existing and upcoming reforms might impact older people or workers, with information explaining individual reforms.
Get involved: Provider workforce survey
The Australian Government’s Aged Care Provider Workforce Survey is opening in May and is critical for monitoring the aged care workforce. The data will support development and evaluation of workforce policy decisions.
A sample of providers has been selected to complete the online survey. Providers can also volunteer to participate.
Selected providers are expected to participate and will have received an invitation from the Social Research Centre (SRC). Please register your participation now. Your support for this important work is appreciated.
All data will remain confidential and will not be used for compliance purposes. Summarised, de-identified data will be published. Participating providers can receive an individualised report on the profile of their workforce.
For more information about the survey visit the SRC website. For questions or to volunteer to participate, contact acwprovidersurvey@health.gov.au
Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) eligibility changes: Organisation update
With the introduction of the Australian National Aged Care Classification funding model in October 2022, permanent residents of residential aged care facilities are not eligible for CAPS and will instead receive continence products directly from their facility as required. This excludes residents receiving respite, short-term restorative care or flexible care who will continue to be eligible.
Permanent residents of residential aged care facilities who were eligible to receive CAPS before 1 October 2022 will have their CAPS eligibility end on 30 June 2023, unless they become ineligible due to a change in circumstances, before that date.
Organisations who provide information on CAPS via a website or printed material must ensure they are using the updated CAPS Application Guidelines and Form. Please read the organisation update on the department’s website.
If you have any questions regarding the CAPS eligibility changes, or the CAPS Application Guidelines and Form, please email Continence@health.gov.au
Webinar: Safe and inclusive care for Forgotten Australians, Care Leavers and older people with complex trauma
Join Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for its upcoming webinar on safe and inclusive care for Forgotten Australians, Care Leavers and older people with complex trauma on Friday 12 May at 4.45pm‑6pm AEST. This webinar is for people employed in aged care, as well as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and volunteers who work with older adults.
Around 500,000 people grew up in institutional ‘care’ in Australia during the first half of the 20th century. Meg identifies as a member of this cohort and will provide aged care workers with an understanding of the impact of childhood trauma in care.
Meg will also discuss how to provide safe and inclusive care for Forgotten Australians, Care Leavers and older people with complex trauma.
Find out more information and register for the webinar.
Vision Australia webinar: Introduction to accessible communications and marketing
Vision Australia invites Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers to take part in a free webinar about accessible communications and marketing, with a number of sessions to take place during May.
The 2-hour webinar is suitable for CHSP aged care workers and communications and marketing staff and will cover:
- practical advice on implementing accessible communication techniques for websites, emails, social media and documents
- writing alternative text for images to ensure access for people with a vision condition
- video captions, transcripts, sign language versions, audio description
- ensuring text and language are readable for all.
Each webinar session has availability for 30 attendees. Please select your preferred date from the registration page. You will receive a Zoom link before the webinar date.
Before the webinar, participants are required to undertake the one-hour on-demand introduction to digital accessibility course. For further details, complete the expression of interest form.
Email questions to reeni.ekanayake@visionaustralia.org
Updated information about 24/7 registered nurse and care minutes responsibilities
New updates have been made by the department to the Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse responsibility guide. These include a new section (section 1.6) on the regulation of the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility from 1 July 2023 and mandatory care minutes from 1 October 2023, regulated by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
New information in the Questions and Answers on the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility can also be found on the department’s website.
Eligible residential aged care providers can also apply for an exemption from the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility. Applications opened 3 April 2023.
For more information, see:
More Specialist Dementia Care Program Units
The Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) supports people with severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia who cannot be cared for in a mainstream aged care home.
Two new units have recently opened under the program: HammondCare Southwood NSW and a second unit at Uniting Eabrai ACT. This brings the total of SDCP units to 12 with another 6 units expected to open throughout 2023.
Referrals for all open units can be made via the online SDCP referral form on the Dementia Support Australia website.
Information on eligibility, referrals and locations of the SDCP units can be found on the department’s website. This includes a Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) Information Booklet for families and carers looking for specialised dementia care support services.