2019 ACFA Annual Report now available
The Aged Care Financing Authority's (ACFA) 2019 Report on Funding and Financing of the Aged Care Industry is now available.
This is the seventh annual report on the funding and financing arrangements and key characteristics of the Australian aged care industry. Read the report to find out more about:
- scale and funding structures
- financing performance based on 2017–18 data
- future demand for aged care
- challenges of achieving a sustainable aged care system.
The full report is available on the department’s website.
If you would like a hard copy of the report, please contact the ACFA secretariat.
New approved provider application forms are now available
New application forms and guidelines for organisations seeking approval to provide residential, home and/or flexible care are now available for use.
The new forms contain questions specific to the Aged Care Quality Standards which take effect from 1 July 2019.
If your organisation is applying for approval to provide residential care, home care or flexible care, you must use the relevant new application form. There are different forms for:
- new applicants
- existing approved providers
- government organisations.
All three forms allow organisations to be approved for one or more types of care:
- residential care
- home care
- flexible care (in the form of short–term restorative care).
Applicants:
- should read the guidance information in conjunction with the application forms
- must use the approved form that is current at the time of applying.
The forms are available on the department's website.
New Charter of Aged Care Rights resources
Resources to support the sector’s understanding of the Charter are available. Resources include a:
- Charter of Aged Care Rights booklet for consumers to inform them of their aged care consumer rights
- Charter of Aged Care Rights poster to display in your organisation and promote awareness of the Charter.
Hard copies of these resources can be ordered by emailing our distributor directly.
The booklet has been translated into 18 languages and is available on the My Aged Care website for downloading and printing.
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has supported the department with raising awareness and providing education about the Charter, which includes support to aged care service providers and consumers. More information is available on OPAN’s website.
More information about the Charter is available on the department’s website.
Resources to promote aged care advocacy services
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has developed two posters to assist in promoting the services they offer under the National Aged Care Advocacy Program.
- The Talk to Us poster aims to inform older people, their families and friends about options for support in resolving any issues they may have with their aged care services.
- The Enrol in Talk to Us First poster promotes OPAN’s free online ‘Talk to Us First’ advocacy training for aged care staff.
All aged care service providers will shortly receive two copies of the Talk to Us poster and one copy of the Enrol in Talk to Us First poster for display in their organisations.
If you wish to receive additional posters for display please contact OPAN on 1800 700 600 8am — 8pm Monday to Friday or visit opan.com.au.
New home care pricing requirements now in place
On 1 July 2019, all home care providers must meet their new pricing requirements. This includes publishing their pricing information in the new standardised schedule on My Aged Care.
Any provider that has not entered their pricing information are required to do so as soon as possible.
Providers will need to save their pricing information against My Aged Care Service Items (not Outlets) for it to appear on the public Service Finder.
The department is monitoring home care providers’ compliance under the new requirements and may take compliance action where appropriate.
Information and all support materials are available on the department's website.
Managing your CHSP service information in My Aged Care
A fact sheet on managing service delivery information for Australian Government funded service listings in My Aged Care is now available for CHSP providers.
It aims to help ensure that the service delivery information you set up in the My Aged Care ‘Find a provider’ tool accurately reflects where you are able to deliver services. It is important this information is accurate as it is publicly displayed and informs the referrals made by contact centre staff and assessors.
Action
Please check that:
- your service delivery information is accurate
- other service information is up–to–date, including service availability information.
More information
Find more information in the Managing your CHSP service information fact sheet.
If you have any questions about your Funding Agreement and contractual obligations please contact your Funding Arrangement Manager (FAM). For technical assistance you can contact the My Aged Care service provider helpline on 1800 836 799.
Outcomes of the 2018 CHSP wellness and reablement report
In late 2018, CHSP service providers in all states and territories (except in Victoria) were required to report on the implementation of wellness and reablement approaches in their service delivery.
The 2018 wellness and reablement report has allowed the department to gain a greater understanding of what is working well, what issues were identified by service providers and the level of support and information required by service providers to enable them to embed wellness and reablement approaches.
The outcomes of the wellness and reablement report is available on the department’s website.
Requirements for the 2019 wellness and reablement report, due on 31 October 2019, are being determined by the department and service providers will be advised when they have been finalised.
For any queries related to the wellness and reablement report, please feel free to contact the Department by email.