Today’s edition includes new fact sheets for providers that deliver Short-Term Restorative Care and Transition Care.
There is also an update on workforce surge support for aged care providers during COVID-19, as well as advice about a webinar being held on 2 July 2020 on ‘Engaging your Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Seniors in times of COVID-19’.
We acknowledge the challenges faced by aged care providers and workers, particularly in Victoria at this time. We thank you and all aged care workers for your commitment to protecting older Australians, and for the essential care and services you are providing.
Short-Term Restorative Care and Transition Care fact sheets
To further assist flexible care providers, an Information for Short-Term Restorative Care Providers fact sheet and an Information for Transition Care Providers fact sheet are now available.
These fact sheets include current guidance on ACAT assessment processes and general program delivery information to support providers during COVID-19.
Workforce surge measure
The Department has engaged Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association (RCSA) and Healthcare Australia (HCA) to provide surge workforce, commencing 1 July 2020, to ensure the continuity of aged care during COVID-19.
These arrangements complement the temporary surge workforce through Mable’s online platform, and the emergency response teams and remote locums through Aspen Medical that are already in place. The new services allow residential and home care providers to access a wider pool of workforce suppliers when looking to engage additional staff to supplement their workforce in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.
If providers are unable to find all required staff through their usual arrangements, the workforce surge measures are in place to help providers find skilled workforce to fill critical gaps or shortages.
These additional arrangements recognise the ongoing need of providers to readily access experienced and qualified staff when managing a COVID-19 outbreak.
Under the existing workforce measures, the Government will continue to pay the costs of staff deployed where a COVID-19 outbreak is experienced by an aged care provider and staff are engaged through Aspen Medical for emergency response teams and remote locums, and for staff engaged through Mable. Staff engaged through RCSA and HCA will be invoiced directly to the providers, and may be reimbursed through the COVID-19 Aged Care Support Grant Program.
Don’t forget to inform the Department if you have a COVID-19 case or outbreak at agedcarecovidcases@health.gov.au so that we can support you during the outbreak, including helping you to access available surge workforce.
Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) Alliance webinar
Providers are invited to join the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) Alliance webinar – "Engaging your Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Seniors in times of COVID-19". The webinar will be held on 2 July at 11:00am – 12.30pm (AEST).
The webinar will discuss strategies to meet the needs of culturally diverse clients and explore examples of good practice across a range of aged care providers in Australia. The program will be facilitated by PICAC Tasmania with sessions presented by the PICAC Alliance.
The intended audience for the webinar is aged care service providers (frontline staff, team leaders and managers) who are supporting CALD seniors who live in residential aged care homes or at home.
Register for the webinar to attend the Zoom session or use the Zoom link. Password is 010 717.
For further information about the PICAC Program or Aged Care Diversity, contact: Ageing.and.Diversity@health.gov.au.
Resources
Coming Soon
- Workforce surge FAQs
- Provider perspective on outbreak management
- Survey for providers on communication during COVID-19