Aged Care 2023-24 Budget
The Australian Government will restore dignity to aged care, ensuring older people are treated with the respect they deserve.
The 2023-24 Budget responds to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, supporting key initiatives to:
- fund the Fair Work Commission interim decision for a 15% aged care worker pay increase
- improve provider regulation with a new regulatory model and enhance quality standards measurement
- establish a new Aged Care Taskforce to review aged care funding arrangements
- transition the Support at Home program, postponed to commence on 1 July 2025
- put older people at the centre of aged care
- ensure long term sustainability for the aged care system
- improve access to high quality aged care for First Nations elders.
Read more about the aged care Budget initiatives.
REMINDER: Webinar today, 16 May: 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 announced in the 2023-24 Budget.
This webinar will provide information about the $11.1 billion (over 4 years from 2023‑24) in funding for residential aged care, including:
- a 15% award wage increase for aged care workers
- Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) price increase
- increase to the 24/7 registered nurse supplement
- new hotelling supplement
- new grant opportunity under the AN-ACC Transition Fund
- increased funding for upcoming changes to care minutes targets
- changes to care minutes allocation for individual AN-ACC classes.
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.
Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement announced
The Australian Government is helping aged care providers access overseas workers to address critical workforce shortages.
The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement will streamline the recruitment of qualified direct care workers from overseas to work in the aged care sector. Providers can use this when there are not enough Australian workers available.
The Labour Agreement will allow aged care providers to use temporary and permanent sponsored skilled visas to fill vacancies in key direct care occupations, including Nursing Support Workers, Personal Care Assistants and Aged or Disabled Carers.
It will also provide workers hired under the Labour Agreement with a flexible 2-year pathway to permanent residence.
You can find more information on the Department of Home Affairs’ website.
Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme
This week is National Volunteers Week and we’re thinking of all the dedicated volunteers across Australia. We especially want to acknowledge those involved in our Community Visitors Scheme (CVS). From 1 July 2023 the CVS will change to the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS).
The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme will provide the same invaluable friendship and companionship that CVS has offered for 30 years to older people who are feeling isolated and lonely. The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme will expand to reach more people with a higher level of service support.
Find out more about the program on the department’s website.
Webinar: Managing Conflict and Building High Performance
The Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program will be hosting a webinar on managing conflict and building high performance on Wednesday 24 May at 12pm-1pm AEST.
Managing conflicting points of view is a crucial skill for executive leaders and governing body members. When left unresolved, conflict can undermine a board’s effectiveness and ultimately impact the organisation’s performance.
Join panellists Yvette McDonald and Dr Kristy Zwickert as they discuss practical strategies to effectively manage conflict while creating a productive board environment.
Enrol in the Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program, register to attend the webinar, listen to the podcasts and explore other learning activities.
Webinar: Dementia support services
Join Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for its upcoming webinar on dementia support services on Friday 26 May 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.
Approximately 400,000 people in Australia live with dementia. Dr Sarah Elder, senior consultant at Dementia Support Australia (DSA), outlines DSA’s approach for supporting people with dementia, and shares results of their behaviour support programs.
Find out more information and register for the webinar.
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.
New fact sheet: Assessment pathways for aged care residents
A new fact sheet on Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) assessment pathways for an aged care resident is now available on the department’s website.
This fact sheet informs providers of permanent residential aged care about the three AN-ACC assessment pathways for assessing and classifying:
- a new resident entering residential aged care for palliative care
- a current resident approaching imminent end of life due to an event
- a current resident experiencing natural decline over time.
The fact sheet explains the different requirements and timeframes for assessment and includes contact details for more information.
Further information about AN-ACC Class 1 – admit for palliative care is available on the department’s website.