Material change form revision and key personnel
On 28 October 2019, the department updated the Notification of a Material Change Form. This update:
- removed the direction not to report key personnel
- added fields to collect third party information
- updated existing fields to make them more specific
- revised the privacy notice.
From late 2016, the department advised that key personnel did not generally need to be reported (except in relation to disqualified individuals). The department now considers that changes in key personnel may be material to a provider’s suitability and as a result will need to be reported.
The department is now seeking updates of key personnel information to ensure records are accurate in relation to the current state for approved providers. This includes:
- current key personnel (as at 1 November 2019) where they had not previously been notified, as they may be material to a provider’s suitability. Historical key personnel changes that do not materially impact the current circumstances of a provider do not need to be reported.
- notifying new material changes within 28 days of the change occurring (as per the Act).
Providers are encouraged to review their circumstances, including arrangements with third party organisations, and notify the department where they consider it is a material change to previous operations.
More information on material change requirements, including additional information on key personnel, can be found on the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission's website.
Invitation to participate in consultation – National Framework for Action on Dementia 2015–2019
The National Framework for Action on Dementia 2015–2019 (the Framework) guides the development and implementation of actions, plans and policies to reduce the risk of dementia and improve outcomes for people with dementia and their carers.
In order to explore the effectiveness of the Framework, we are seeking input via public consultation to ensure the best outcomes for people with dementia and their carers.
This consultation will:
- evaluate the existing Framework
- provide an opportunity to inform and scope options for national strategies to address dementia in the future.
You are invited to take part in the consultation process by completing an online survey.
The consultation closes Tuesday 31 December 2019.
Find more information on the Framework on the department’s website.
Home Care Package Survey: Live on Monday
On Monday 25 November, all home care providers will receive an email link to complete a short survey on care they provide under a home care package. The survey will be open until the end of the year.
We urge home care providers to participate in this survey. Your participation will ensure that your circumstances are considered and that we can form an accurate national picture of care provided under the Home Care Packages Program.
We have designed the survey to obtain more detailed data on the types, volume and cost to the Home Care Package of care and services delivered under the Home Care Packages Program. Providers should already hold the information being sought, as it aligns with clients' monthly statements.
The survey is being administered by Forms Administration who will send each home care provider an email on Monday. The collection will use similar methods to the annual financial reporting process. If you do not receive an email, please contact the Forms Administration helpdesk via email health@formsadministration.com.au or by telephone (02) 4403 0640.
This is a key opportunity for home care providers to assist the department in addressing an important information gap, and continuing to improve the Home Care Packages Program. The information will also be used to inform any future reform of aged care at home. We will provide feedback to providers based on the analysis of the information received.
As part of the survey, home care providers can opt in to provide more detailed data in January 2020 and are encouraged to do so.
Future Quality Indicators (QIs) pilot – Nominations open
The department has engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to develop two new quality indicators relating to:
- medication management
- falls and fractures.
A pilot to trial the two new QIs in residential aged care homes will start shortly. Participation in the pilot will provide your service with an opportunity to trial the proposed measures and shape the future of the National Aged Care Mandatory QI Program.
Residential aged care services wishing to participate in the pilot should register their interest via email to PwC: AgedCareQI@au.pwc.com.
Find more information about the QI Program on the department’s website.
CHSP booklet now available in 18 languages
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) booklet, Your Guide to Commonwealth Home Support Programme Services (PDF, 2.4 MB), has been newly translated into: Dutch, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Maltese, Macedonian and Russian.
The booklet is also available in: Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Korean, Polish, Serbian, Spanish and Vietnamese. Translated booklets are available on the My Aged Care website for reading online, downloading or printing at home.
The English version is available as a professionally-printed hard copy booklet and is given to eligible CHSP clients by Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessors at the time of the face-to-face home support assessment.
The CHSP booklet is for clients who have already contacted My Aged Care and undertaken the screening and assessment process. For someone who doesn’t yet know what type of care they may be eligible for, the Find the help you need with My Aged Care (PDF, 502 KB) brochure is more suitable. Translated versions of this brochure are also available.
The CHSP booklet content was last revised and updated in June 2019.
Short–term services for older people during a period of reablement
The department is trialling reablement–based assessment in five trial sites around the country. People who can benefit from a period of reablement may require short–term services while they regain abilities or recover from an event. Often they are able to stay living independently in their own home without ongoing services.
The department is updating existing and developing new consumer resources to explain the value of short–term services for older people to prevent unnecessary dependency on care. These resources will be released in early 2020.