My Aged Care AUSkey users: change the method you use to access My Aged Care now!
You only have 8 days to go before you can no longer use your AUSkey and Manage ABN Connections to access My Aged Care portals.
Set up your myGovID or VANguard FAS access and start using it now. This ensures continued access to My Aged Care.
Get started with myGovID
- Download the myGovID app from the Apple or Google Play Store (you need a smart device and an email address that is not shared).
- Register your myGovID by entering your full name, date of birth and an email address you can access. This will give you BASIC access.
- Add identity documents to upgrade to a STANDARD access.
If you need help, contact the My Aged Care provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799.
Services Australia Aged Care Quarterly Review
The next Quarterly Review for Residential Care and Home Care will take place on 21 March 2020 with a date of effect of 20 March 2020.
Services Australia will send letters to aged care providers and care recipients as soon as possible after the Quarterly Review.
The Department of Human Services changed its name to Services Australia on 1 February 2020. This change is reflected on all aged care letters.
Further information is available on:
Understanding and accessing Department of Veterans’ Affairs Services Webinar Series
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) are hosting eight free interactive educational webinars. The aim of the webinars is to inform health professionals, community workers, veterans and their families about the services that are available.
We encourage you to join us for all eight webinars in the series or just for the ones that are of interest to you. Upon registration you will receive the link and instructions about how to access the webinar on the day. This will be emailed to you again 24 hours and 2 hours before the event. Details of the first two webinars are below.
Webinar 1: Wed 25 March 2020, 11am to 11.30am, Introduction to DVA Services, will be an overview of these services and of the webinar series to come.
By attending this webinar, you will learn:
- about the range of DVA services available to veterans and their families
- what DVA Health Cards mean
- how a patient can register as a DVA client to access DVA services
Please register for this session.
Webinar 2: Wed 25 March 2020, 2pm to 2.30pm, Coordinated Veterans’ Care Program, will be an overview of this program, including how to access it.
By attending this webinar, you will learn:
- what the DVA Coordinated Veterans' Care Program is, including how to access it
- who provides the services and care under the Coordinated Veterans' Care Program
Please register for this session.
For further information go to the:
- DVA website or phone DVA on 1800 550 457 8am to 5pm (AEDT) Monday to Friday.
- OPAN website or phone OPAN on 1800 700 600 8am to 8pm (AEDT) Monday to Friday.
National Advance Care Planning Week
It is National Advance Care Planning Week from 23-27 March 2020. It’s a good time to help people talk about, plan for and document wishes about their future health care. This is important in case they are unable to communicate those decisions in the future. The Aged Care Quality Standards state that providers must identify and plan for the needs, goals and preferences of people they care for. This includes Advance Care Planning if the person wishes to do so. Advance Care Planning promotes people’s choice in and control of their future health and personal care.
Use Advance Care Planning Week to share information with staff, residents and the community. The National Advance Care Planning Week website includes:
Further information about Advance Care Planning is available on the Advance Care Planning Australia website or by calling 1300 208 582.
Update: The National Aged Care Quality Indicator Pilot
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is assisting the department in the development of new quality indicators (QIs) relating to medication management and falls and fractures.
The pilot to trial the QIs in residential aged care services started on 2 March 2020 and ends on 22 May 2020. The pilot further examines the existing three QIs: pressure injuries, use of physical restraint and unplanned weight loss. This is in response to sector feedback. The pilot includes the following QIs:
|
Quality Indicator |
Categories |
|
Pressure injuries |
Percentage of care recipients with pressure injuries, reported against six pressure injury stages |
|
Use of Physical Restraint |
Percentage of care recipients who were physically restrained |
|
Unplanned Weight Loss |
Percentage of care recipients who experienced significant unplanned weight loss (5% or more) |
|
Percentage of care recipients who experienced consecutive unplanned weight loss |
|
|
Falls and Fractures |
Percentage of care recipients who experienced one or more falls |
|
Percentage of care recipients who experienced one or more falls resulting in major injury |
|
|
Medications Management |
Percentage of care recipients who were prescribed nine or more medications |
|
Percentage of care recipients who received antipsychotic medications |
Thank you to the approximately 200 residential aged care services who volunteered to take part in the pilot. This process and your feedback will help shape the future of the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program).
Find more information about the pilot on the PwC website and more information about the QI Program on the department's website.