Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment closing soon
The Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment is available to registered nurses who have worked with the same aged care provider over one of the following eligibility periods:
- 1 November 2021 – 31 October 2022
- 1 May 2022 – 31 October 2022.
Up to $6,000 is available for full-time registered nurses with payments also available on a pro-rata basis for eligible part-time nurses.
Aged care providers are encouraged to apply now for the Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment through a non-competitive grant process on Grant Connect as applications will close on Tuesday 28 February. There will be no provision for extension past this date.
Webinar: Digital Transformation Tech Talk
The department’s Digital Transformation agenda is working to create a better-connected aged care network, that is consolidated, sustainable, automated, and modern.
Join us for the first Digital Transformation Tech Talk webinar for 2023 on Thursday 2 March at 2pm-3.30pm AEDT.
Hear more about why we are undertaking this important work. We’ll provide a forecast of the aged care reforms and digital transformation initiatives you can expect in the coming months, as well as a ‘playback’ on the Star Ratings release that went live late last year. You will also have a chance to ask questions.
Register for the Digital Transformation Tech Talk webinar.
National Suicide Prevention for Seniors Programs
Would you know what to do if someone you support was experiencing thoughts of suicide?
Anglicare’s Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program equips those who support older people with the knowledge to help prevent suicide.
The free national program includes a general suicide prevention online course followed by a workshop contextualising the training for older people. The 2 parts should only take a total of 3 hours to complete.
The program is funded by the NSW and Australian governments. To be eligible, you need to be working with older people and have internet access.
If you are interested, please email Anglicare at suicide.prevention@anglicare.org.au or visit the Anglicare website.
HCP Program Assurance Community of Practice: Live chat session on inclusions and exclusions
The next live chat for the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program Assurance Community of Practice will be held on Thursday 23 February at 11:30am–12:30pm AEDT.
Department staff will be online to answer your questions about HCP Program inclusions and exclusions.
Join us to discuss:
- the updated HCP Program operational manual
- using the inclusions and exclusions framework to support decision making when determining what can and cannot be included as part of an HCP.
All approved HCP providers are welcome to attend. For those who have not yet joined, sign up for the HCP Program Assurance Community of Practice.
For help signing up, email HCPProviderEducation@health.gov.au
Home care workforce support program webinars
The department invites Home Care Providers to a webinar offering insights into growing the size of the personal care workforce and addressing workforce needs. Service providers under the Home Care Workforce Support Program will:
- provide an overview of how the program can assist them to meet their workforce needs
- share knowledge learned so far
- offer an opportunity for providers to ask questions.
Webinars have been scheduled for the following regions and dates. Click on the relevant link to register and learn more about your preferred webinar:
- QLD – Thursday 2 March at 1pm AEST
- NSW/ACT – Tuesday 7 March at 2pm AEDT
- VIC/TAS – Thursday 16 March at 2pm AEDT
- SA/NT – Thursday 23 March at 11:30am ACST
- WA – Thursday 30 March at 11am AWST
Providers can also submit questions before the webinar through the registration link, or by emailing them to acworkforceprograms@health.gov.au
Webinar to launch Residents’ Experience Surveys
The 2023 Residents’ Experience Surveys (formerly Consumer Experience Interviews) are underway.
To help residential aged care providers prepare, the department is hosting a webinar on Thursday 9 March at 2pm-3pm AEDT.
Speakers from the department and the external team undertaking the survey (IQVIA, Access Care Network Australia and HealthConsult) will discuss:
- outcomes of the 2022 interviews
- changes to the 2023 process
- what you can expect and the importance of participating.
We appreciate your support of this initiative. This year we are introducing some changes to simplify the process and minimise disruption to your residents and teams including:
- a slight amendment to the set of 14 questions to help draw out meaningful feedback about participants’ experiences at your home
- the survey team will approach residents at random on the day to seek their consent to participate, rather than require de-identified lists.
Register for the webinar and submit your questions.
Find out more about the survey process on the consortium’s website or visit the department’s Residents’ Experience Surveys webpage.
Webinar: Introduction to counselling approaches in residential aged care
Join Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for their upcoming webinar on ageing on Friday 3 March at 4.45pm‑6pm AEDT. This webinar is for people employed in aged care, as well as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and volunteers who work with older adults.
Mental health services are now more available in residential aged care facilities, however few clinicians are trained to provide such services.
A panel of our mental health trainees, led by social worker Mark Silver, will provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities in delivering such services. They will discuss their roles, involving staff and families, use of groups, reminiscence, creative arts and other innovative methods to facilitate therapeutic goals.