On 11 April 2022 the Australian Government assumed a caretaker role. The Government is now operating in accordance with the Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2022 federal election. Information on Caretaker Conventions is available at http://www.pmc.gov.au/caretaker
In this issue, read the latest updates on the AN-ACC funding reform, take part in the new Governing for Reform in Aged Care program, and find out about changes to My Aged Care.
Please share this newsletter with your networks, and encourage them to subscribe. You can also visit the Engagement Hub to get involved in the aged care reforms.
Updates on AN-ACC funding reform
Residential aged care providers can now access the outcome of completed Australian National Aged Care Classifications (AN‑ACC) shadow assessments through the My Aged Care Service Provider Portal.
The department has also published information about the AN-ACC funding reform, including the following 2022‑23 Budget announcements:
- the AN‑ACC starting price
- changes to the AN‑ACC Base Care Tariffs
- transition support.
We encourage providers to visit the residential aged care funding reform and the funding reform resources webpages for the latest information. This includes fact sheets, FAQs and an AN‑ACC Transition Support Plan outlining the resources, financial support and other services available to help providers transition to the new AN‑ACC funding model from 1 October 2022.
Have your say: Employment models in aged care
The Productivity Commission is undertaking a study to examine employment models in aged care, and the effects that policies and procedures preferencing the direct employment of aged care workers would have on the sector.
An issues paper, released as part of the study, includes consideration of independent contractors (including labour hire) and workers engaged through digital platforms in residential and home-based aged care.
You are invited to read the Indirect employment in aged care issues paper and have your say – written submissions are due by 29 April 2022.
New Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program
If you are a member of a governing body or a leader in the aged care sector, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, in partnership with KPMG, invites you to participate in its Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program.
The free online program supports leaders to enhance their organisation’s corporate and clinical governance and lift its overall performance. It combines learning through webinars, facilitated workshops, learning modules and resources.
All members of governing bodies and executives of Australian Government funded residential aged care and home care providers are eligible to participate in the program.
Enrol via the Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program website.
Webinar: Making a difference in dementia care
Join Dementia Australia’s Centre for Dementia Learning for their first free webinar of 2022.
The webinar will be held at 12noon‑1:30pm AEST on Thursday 28 April, and is aimed at people employed in the aged care, community service, disability and health sectors.
A panel of senior executives of aged care providers will discuss recent achievements and challenges for the sector, and how to offer quality care for people living with dementia.
Find out more information and register for the webinar.
Reminder: Have your say on aged care research priorities
The new Centre for Growth and Translational Research at Flinders University is a collaborative research hub to translate research findings into best practice for the aged care sector.
The aged care sector helped identify research priorities for 2022. These are dementia care, restorative care/rehabilitation, mental health and wellbeing, and social isolation.
A survey is open to identify the priority needs for next year. These will be the focus of the centre’s research projects and resource development in 2023.
Have your say via the online survey on the Flinders University website until 8 May 2022.
Translating and interpreting services available for aged care providers and care recipients
The interpreting service TIS National can help people who speak a language other than English to access and understand information about aged care services, in their own language.
TIS National provides immediate, pre-booked and automated phone interpreting, as well as on-site interpreting services.
The department will cover the cost of TIS National interpreting services for aged care providers when communicating with aged care recipients about their care needs, services and preferences, fees and charges. Find out how to access departmentally-funded interpreting services on the department’s website.
Call 131 450 or visit tisnational.gov.au, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Open Arms support services for veterans
Veterans and their families face unique experiences during a military career, and in transitioning to life after service. Military life can involve significant challenges and trauma.
Open Arms provides mental health assessment and free, confidential clinical counselling services for Australian veterans and their families. It also offers group treatment programs, online groups, relationship retreats, and suicide intervention and mental health literacy workshops.
To find out more about counselling and support services available for senior veterans, visit the Open Arms website or call 1800 011 046.
Increasing your understanding of the needs of veterans and their families, and the support services available, may assist in identifying strategies to help your services provide culturally safe, appropriate, and inclusive care that is tailored to the needs of each individual as required by the Aged Care Quality Standards.
DUE 21 April: Submit your next Food and Nutrition report
The next Food and Nutrition Report is due on 21 April 2022.To ensure your service continues to receive the Basic Daily Fee supplement of $10 per resident per day, please submit your report on time. Back-payments will not be made.
Administrator access is needed to submit the report which can be accessed under the submission portal in the My Aged Care service provider portal. Explanatory notes are on our website to help you complete your report.
For more information or support, call the My Aged Care Provider and Assessor Helpline on 1800 836 799, go to the department’s website, or email NutritionInAgedCare@health.gov.au
Information for providers using Services Australia’s Aged Care Online web services
Aged Care software developers have now finalised their upgrades to web services products.
Aged Care providers upgrading to web services need to:
- have web services-compatible Business to Government (B2G) software
- register their organisation in Provider Digital Access (PRODA)
- register the device in PRODA
- register the details of which services are using B2G software by completing the Register or update for Aged Care web services form (AC027).
- Work with your software developer on your transition to web services.
Read more about how to register an organisation in PRODA on the Services Australia website.
Growing the home care workforce
Six organisations or consortia have been funded through the Home Care Workforce Support Program to grow the home care workforce.
They will undertake activities to:
- raise awareness of career opportunities in the sector
- skill and screen new workers
- better equip providers to attract, train and retain workers, including access to JobTrainer aged care training places.
Find out more about how you can benefit from the Program via the department’s website.
HealthConsult has been engaged to undertake an ongoing evaluation of activities under the program. We are seeking input from providers and personal care workers to inform a baseline of existing activities.
Participate in the provider survey or personal care workers survey.
Changes to My Aged Care: Pricing information
New easy-to-navigate tools are now live on the My Aged Care website, to help senior Australians better understand Home Care Package pricing.
Changes include:
- a new, quick costs checker for common services
- cost-comparison indicators to compare average pricing at a geographic level
- an updated costs tab layout
- a note to show when content was last updated by the provider.
Providers should regularly review and confirm that their pricing information on the My Aged Care Provider Portal is up-to-date.
Read more about the changes to improve price transparency for Home Care Packages or go to the My Aged Care website.