Compulsory reporting by aged care providers
Approved providers of residential aged care need to report suspected or alleged assaults to both the Department of Health and your local police.
Reportable assaults on a resident include:
- unreasonable use of force
- unlawful sexual contact
- unexplained absences (missing residents).
The single Quality Standards introduced on 1 July 2019 did not change the compulsory reporting obligations contained within the Aged Care Act 1997.
Information about the guide for aged care staff and compulsory reporting is available on the department’s website.
Nominate now for 60th Australian of the Year Awards
January 2020 will mark the 60th anniversary of the Australian of the Year Awards. Nominations for the Awards are now open. All Australians have an important role to play in the search for everyday people who are great at what they do, contribute to Australian society and inspire those around them. It only takes one nomination for someone to be in the running for the Awards.
Nominations close midnight Wednesday 31 July 2019.
Be Great and Nominate online or call 1300 655 193.
Awareness of phone scams
All service providers should be aware that there have been recent reports of scammers targeting Home Care Package recipients via phone.
These scammers often start by offering a better Home Care Package and attempting to lure the client into making a payment of some description, including through the purchase of vouchers.
In one reported case, a scammer advised the client they could offer a better Home Care Package deal and that they were eligible to receive a sum of money, but in order to receive this money they had to pay upfront through the purchase of vouchers.
Service providers should encourage their clients to report any suspicious activity to them and the police.
Information on scams and the ability to report them can also be done via the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s website ‘Scamwatch’.