Webinar: Q&A on aged care wage increase
A webinar on the aged care wage increase was held on Thursday 15 June 2023.
We are preparing answers to the many questions received. You can find some questions and answers, the webinar recording, transcript and presentation slides on our website.
We will include a notification in this newsletter when further answers are published.
Find out more about the department’s support for better and fairer wages for aged care workers.
Provider Governance: New resources available
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has released new resources for approved providers of aged care.
The resources will help providers implement reforms to strengthen provider governance commencing 1 December 2023. This includes responsibilities relating to:
- governing body membership requirements
- advisory bodies
- staff qualifications and training
- the constitution for organisations that are a wholly owned subsidiary.
Read and download the strengthening provider governance resources.
The Commission will release more resources and supports throughout the year. For further information visit Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Webinar: Compliance in Practice
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is holding a webinar on Compliance in Practice.
The Commission is aware providers have different levels of understanding regarding the why, when, and how the Commission exercises its enforcement powers.
This webinar will guide providers through a series of steps taken before the Commission decides on regulatory action, and what a provider can expect when that happens.
When
- Tuesday 18 July, 1pm-2pm (AEST)
Speakers
- Janet Anderson PSM, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner
- Peter Edwards, Executive Director, compliance Management Group, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
The webinar includes a Q&A session.
Webinar: Voluntary assisted dying - what you need to know
Join Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for a free webinar on ageing on Friday 21 July at 4.45‑6pm AEST.
This webinar is for people employed in aged care, as well as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and volunteers who work with older adults.
Kristen Kappel is a clinical psychologist who has worked in a variety of health care settings over the past 23 years. Kristen will provide information about the eligibility for, and process involved in, voluntary assisted dying (VAD). This webinar will enable mental health professionals to respond appropriately and within legislative requirements when the topic of VAD is raised in clinical practice.
Find out more and register for the webinar now.
National Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program
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.
Reminder: Quality indicator reporting via GPMS due 21 July
Residential aged care providers are reminded that quarterly reporting of quality indicator data is due to be submitted via GPMS by 11.59pm, Friday 21 July.
The new Quality Indicator application on the GPMS portal makes it easier for providers to access and report information.
All existing and new QI Program reporting users are now able to log in to GPMS and can be entering and submitting data for Quarter 4 2022-23.
To assist you in submitting your data, please read the Government Provider Management System User Guide: Quality Indicators application.
Read and find more resources on GPMS and QI Program.
For help, contact the My Aged Care Provider Helpline on 1800 836 799.
Emergency leave for aged care residents extended to 31 December 2023
Emergency leave for permanent aged care residents has been extended for 6 months.
This means residents who wish to temporarily relocate during COVID-19 outbreaks can continue to use emergency leave instead of social leave through to 31 December 2023.
Aged care homes will still be paid residential care subsidy when residents are on emergency leave.
Providers are reminded that an emergency leave claiming type is now available in the Aged Care Provider Portal. This means the social leave event type can no longer be used for claiming emergency leave.
For general claiming and payment assistance contact Services Australia on 1800 195 206 or aged.care.liaison@servicesaustralia.gov.au.
For information on emergency leave see: