Support available under the COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant
The COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant (GO4863) reimburses providers for additional eligible costs incurred in managing a direct impact of COVID‑19. This includes:
- Labour (additional and replacement staff and associated costs).
- The purchase of PPE that best fits your staff and that is approved and appropriate for caring for someone confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 (see the Guidance on infection prevention and control for residential care facilities for further information).
- Equipment and resources.
- Waste removal costs.
Approved Residential Aged Care, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFACP) and Home Care Package providers are eligible to apply if they have:
- One or more residents, clients or staff members who have been tested for COVID‑19 and have had to isolate as result (regardless of whether the result is positive or negative).
- Incurred eligible expenses during that period of isolation (from the date of an associated COVID-19 test until the period of isolation ends) between 28 May 2021 and 31 March 2022.
This Grant opportunity closes on 31 March 2022. For more information please see the Grant Opportunity Guidelines on GrantConnect.
Mandatory reporting on COVID-19 vaccination for all CHSP and NATSIFACP providers
Mandatory reporting starts next week on Tuesday 5 October 2021, for all Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFACP) home care providers on the COVID‑19 vaccination status of the aged care workforce.
Reporting is via the My Aged Care portal for providers.
The new reporting requires CHSP and NATSIFACP home care providers to record de-identified data at a service level on the:
- total number of workers at each aged care service, and of those,
- the number of workers at each service who have received a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- the number of workers at each service who have received all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Additional information is available on the department’s website and support is available through the CHSP Emergency Support for COVID‑19 grant opportunity (GO3877).
VIC – Important information for residential aged care facilities
The Victorian Government has issued updated Guidance on COVID-19 risks for residential aged care facilities, with changes to Victoria’s restrictions that came into effect from 11.59pm on 23 September 2021. Please check the latest Directions issued by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer as advice can change rapidly.
The Victorian Department of Health (VDH) has released information to assist residential aged care facilities (RACFs) on public health actions if a positive case attended the RACF and if a primary close contact attended the RACF.
An outbreak resource pack has been developed by the VDH infection prevention control response team to assist your residential aged care facility in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 infection.
- Please download the latest versions of documents, laminate these and use for outbreak preparedness and management.
- Check the websites/links often for updates. Most are living documents updated regularly and so this will ensure the most recent document is downloaded.
The COVID-19 Outbreak resource pack for residential aged care facilities (RACF) is available on the IPC webpage.
If you have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in your facility, please immediately advise the Victorian Government Public Health Unit publichealth.operations@dhhs.vic.gov.au and the Australian Government Department of Health agedcareCOVIDcases@health.gov.au.
Please don’t hesitate to contact agedcareCOVIDpreparedness@health.vic.gov.au if you have any questions.
Webinar: Supporting the loss and grief of families and relatives
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB) is holding a webinar to explore the impact that COVID-19 has had on aged care recipients and their families and friends. Speakers will identify key concerns and offer practical strategies to help aged care recipients, their families and loved ones.
The webinar will be held on Thursday 30 September, 2 – 3 pm (AEST) and a recording will be made for those unable to join online.
For more information and to register, visit the ACGB webpage.
This webinar is part of the aged care COVID-19 grief and trauma support package, under which the Australian Government has funded expert organisations to provide free grief, trauma, dementia and advocacy support for those living, working and caring for people in the aged care sector.
This is intended to support aged care residents, home care recipients, their loved ones, friends, families, community visitors and aged care staff during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Engaging in this webinar may help you and your organisation to meet your obligations under the Aged Care Quality Standards. Under the Quality Standards, providers are required to treat care recipients with dignity and respect, this activity directly relates to Standard 1 and Standard 3 to help you embed safe and inclusive, tailored practices.
For more information contact ageing.and.diversity@health.gov.au.
Reminder: Aged Care Emergency and Crisis Management Training Program 2021 now available
Approved providers are reminded that the Aged Care Emergency and Crisis Management Training Program 2021 is now available, and is free for all participants.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted vulnerabilities in aged care crisis management and in particular, effective decision making. This training program aims to:
- provide aged care providers with the knowledge, tools and confidence to build or strengthen their organisation’s emergency and crisis management capability
- better ensure continued delivery of safe and quality care in challenging situations.
RiskLogic and First 5 Minutes, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, have developed a tailored program targeted at aged care provider senior leadership, to cover core aspects of risk and emergency/crisis response preparedness.
What does the course content cover?
Self-paced eLearning modules
- Available now – over 600 registrations to date.
- Topics covered include:
- the Threat Environment
- Emergency and Crisis Management Principles
- Escalation and Activation of Responding Teams
- Leadership Considerations
- Governance
- Critical Communications.
Group Mentoring Sessions
- Available from October 2021 to all participants who have completed the eLearning modules
- 1.5-hour webinar delivered by crisis management professionals.
- Sessions will focus on the development of a Resilience Policy and Framework with practical materials provided.
One-on-one sessions with a crisis management practitioner
- Available from October 2021 for those who have completed the eLearning modules and engaged in a group mentoring session.
Who should attend?
Senior leaders of aged care providers who are seeking to better equip themselves with the skills and knowledge to build or strengthen emergency and crisis management leadership skills within their organisation.
This could include: Chief Executive Officers, Board Members, and other senior management/leadership positions such as Directors of Nursing.
To register and find further information, visit the RiskLogic website.