News about the reforms
Reminder: Star Ratings provider preview now available
All residential aged care providers should have access to preview their updated quarterly Star Ratings before they are published on My Aged Care at the end of April.
Organisation Administrators have been contacted with instructions on how to access the preview through the Government Provider Management System (GPMS). Supporting resources are available on the department’s GPMS webpage.
Please contact the My Aged Care Service Industry, Provider and Assessor Helpline on 1800 836 799 if you:
- did not receive notification or are having difficulty accessing GPMS
- would like to report any IT or technical errors in your Star Ratings.
Please refer to the resources on the Star Ratings webpage to support your preview:
- understand calculations using the Star Ratings Provider Manual
- refer to QI Program Manual – Part C to check and correct Quality Measures data
- contact the Commission on 1800 951 822 or email info@agedcarequality.gov.au if you have concerns about your Compliance Rating data.
Sector news
Decommissioning fax for My Aged Care
Please be aware that the department will be decommissioning the My Aged Care fax number (1800 728 174) on 31 July 2023.
Decommissioning the fax will:
- make it faster and easier for clients to progress through their aged care journey
- ensure sensitive information is handled safely and securely.
There are a number of alternative pathways, including the use of the GP e-Referral solution and the Make a Referral tool on the My Aged Care website.
The department will provide further communication in the lead-up to the decommissioning. More information can be found on the My Aged Care website.
Webinar – Trauma-focused treatments with older adults
Join Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for their upcoming webinar on trauma-focussed treatment on Friday 28 April at 4.45pm‑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.
Dr Monica Cations from Flinders University provides practical advice on how to deliver safe and accessible care for older adults who have experienced traumatic events.
Learn about the wide-ranging effects of psychological trauma in older adulthood and be introduced to the basics of trauma-informed care.
Find out more information and register for the webinar.
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.
For home care providers
Translated fact sheet on Serious Incident Response Scheme
The Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) helps reduce the risk of abuse and neglect for people receiving aged care. On 1 December 2022, the SIRS was extended from residential aged care to include home care and flexible aged care delivered in a home or community setting.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has developed resources for recipients of home care services including a SIRS fact sheet.
The fact sheet, available in 25 languages, covers what the SIRS is, what is expected of providers, what a SIRS reportable incident is and how to seek help if needed.
Home care service providers are encouraged to provide the fact sheet to recipients of their services.
Find the fact sheet on the Commission’s website.
For residential care providers
Reminder: National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program data due 21 April
Residential aged care providers must submit third quarter (1 January to 31 March 2023) quality indicator data through the My Aged Care provider portal by Friday 21 April.
Quality indicator data is included in Star Ratings. Late or non-submission of data will result in 1 star for the Quality Measures Rating and reduce a service’s Overall Star Rating.
Providers must submit data for these quality indicators:
- pressure injuries
- physical restraint
- falls and major injury
- unplanned weight loss
- medication management.
Data collection for the six new quality indicators will commence in the next reporting quarter (1 April to 30 June 2023).
Find more information on the quality indicators and Star Ratings on the department’s website.
For assistance please contact the My Aged Care Provider and Assessor Helpline on 1800 836 799.
Apply for flexible aged care places (residential)
The 2022-23 Flexible Aged Care Places (Multi-Purpose Services) Allocations Round is now open.
Multi-Purpose Service approved providers can apply for flexible aged care places to:
- expand existing services or
- establish new services.
Up to 100 places are available through a competitive application process. Applications close on 8 June 2023.
Flexible aged care places (home care) are not allocated in this round.
Find out more and download the application form on the our website. If you have any questions email mpsagedcare@health.gov.au
Monthly Care Statements: Pilot Program underway
The Monthly Care Statements Pilot for residential aged care has progressed to the next stage and the first statements have now been provided to residents. The statements are intended to supplement existing communication between providers and residents.
More than 40 volunteer providers across rural, remote, profit and not-for-profit and including First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse services are distributing one of 5 co-designed care statements to volunteer residents at each site.
Residents will receive a total of 3 Monthly Care Statements from their provider as part of the pilot.
The statements include a summary of the care received and any significant changes or events that occurred during the previous month.
Feedback will be sought from participating providers and residents during and after the pilot to inform the final design of the Monthly Care Statements requirement.
More information is available on our Monthly Care Statements webpage.