$11.3 billion funding announced for aged care wage increase
The Australian Government is investing $11.3 billion to fund the Fair Work Commission’s decision of a 15% award wage increase for many aged care workers.
The wage increase will take effect from 30 June 2023.
Aged care providers will receive additional funding through existing funding arrangements and new grant opportunities. Funding for on-costs and leave liabilities will be provided.
For more information on the wage rise:
- visit the department’s website
- attend the Residential aged care funding – Budget update webinar – Tuesday 16 May at 2:30pm AEST
- attend the Reforming in-home care update webinar – Thursday 18 May at 2pm AEST
- call the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799.
Webinar today, 9 May: A new model for regulating aged care
Join us for a webinar on the proposed new model for regulating aged care today, Tuesday 9 May, at 2pm-3pm AEST.
The webinar is part of our consultation on A new model for regulating aged care, Consultation Paper No.2: Details of the proposed new model, open until 5pm, Friday 23 June.
We’ll share details about the new Aged Care Act and how the new model aims to enhance the protections of older people and the delivery of high-quality care without adding unnecessary regulatory burden on providers. Topics to be covered include:
- supporting provider capability
- proposed registration categories and obligations
- the definition of high-quality care under the new Aged Care Act
- proposed whistle-blower protections
- transitioning to the model.
The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session.
Register to access the webinar log in.
If you are unable to attend the webinar, a recording will be made available on the department’s website.
To read Consultation Paper No.2, submit your thoughts on the proposed model, and to register for workshops on the proposed model, visit the Aged Care Engagement Hub regulatory model page.
Aged care scholarships now available
The Aged Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarships program is open to enrolled and registered nurses, personal care workers and allied health professionals working in aged care. Vocational education, undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship opportunities are available.
These scholarships include the study areas of:
- palliative care
- dementia care
- infection prevention and control
- leadership and management.
All scholarship recipients will be eligible for a completion bonus on successfully finishing their course. A guaranteed number of scholarships will be available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Applications opened on 2 May 2023 and will close as soon as all of the available places have been filled.
Find out more information on the Australian College of Nursing website.
Welcome to Aged Care: Online learning available
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has released a series of online learning modules for staff new to the aged care sector.
The ‘Welcome to Aged Care’ series provides aged care staff with an overview of the Commission, their obligations in providing high quality care to older Australians and the resources available to support their work.
The modules are:
- Introduction to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
- Introduction to the Charter of Aged Care Rights
- Introduction to complaints.
Access to the Commission’s online learning is free for all employees of Commonwealth-funded aged care providers.
For further information and to register visit the Commission’s website.
REMINDER – Webinar: Reforming in-home aged care update
The department is hosting a webinar on Thursday 18 May at 2pm-4pm AEST to update older people, their families and carers and the aged care sector on in-home aged care reform.
The webinar will provide a progress update on:
- reforms to in-home aged care
- Commonwealth Home Support Programme
- Home Care Packages Program
- the new regulatory model
- the new Aged Care Act.
This webinar will have Auslan interpreters. You will have an opportunity to submit questions during the webinar.
Register on the Aged Care Engagement Hub.
If you are unable to attend the webinar, a recording of this will be made available on the department’s website.
Vision Australia webinar: Tips on creating an appropriate environment for telehealth
Vision Australia invites Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers to take part in a free webinar about telehealth consulting. The webinar will be held on Tuesday 23 May at 2:30pm AEST and Wednesday 7 June at 11am AEST.
Telehealth consulting is an increasingly popular method of service delivery in aged care. Vision Australia experts offer practical ways to create positive telehealth sessions with your clients.
This webinar is suitable for aged care workers in the CHSP sector and will cover:
- the ideal room and video set up
- communication techniques and resolving miscommunications
- confidentiality, privacy and consent via telehealth.
Register for the telehealth webinar on 23 May.
Register for the telehealth webinar on 7 June.
Data collection for the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program
Residential aged care providers are reminded to commence collecting Quarter 4 2022‑23 data for the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program) including the new Quality Indicators which commenced from 1 April 2023.
We encourage providers to visit the department’s QI Program webpage for resources and guidance on data collection.
Other resources include:
- a recording of the 28 March webinar and presentation slides
- updated frequently asked questions
- updated data recording templates
Reporting of this quarter’s data will be via the new Government Provider Management System (GPMS).
The existing QI Program reporting portal will decommissioned and all Quarter 4 2022‑23 quality indicator data should be entered and submitted via the new GPMS platform.
For assistance please contact the My Aged Care Provider and Assessor Helpline on 1800 836 799.
Webinar: Residential aged care funding – Budget update
Join us for a webinar on Tuesday 16 May at 2.30pm‑3.30pm AEST to hear about the residential aged care funding initiatives in the 2023 Budget.
Presenters include Mark Richardson and other representatives from the department’s Residential Care Funding Reform Branch.
You can submit questions before the event via registration or during the webinar. Slides and a video recording of the webinar will be available in the weeks following.
Register now for this webinar.
For information about residential aged care funding reform, see the Australian National Aged Care Classification funding model webpage on the department’s website.
Webinar recording available: Regulation of workforce-related responsibilities including 24/7 on site registered nurse and care minutes
The recording of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s webinar, Regulation of workforce-related responsibilities including 24/7 on‑site registered nurse and care minutes, held on 18 April, is now available.
Topics discussed by panellists from the Commission and Department of Health and Aged Care included:
- the regulatory role of the Commission, including the assessment and monitoring of risk
- the 24/7 on site registered nurse responsibility from 1 July 2023
- the care minutes responsibility from 1 October 2023
- the department 's role in ensuring compliance with reporting
- alternative care arrangements.
The recording, presentation slides and details of upcoming Commission webinars can be found on the Commission’s website.
You can also visit the department’s website for more information about Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurses in residential aged care.