Register now: Aged Care Quality Standards consultation webinar
The department is hosting a webinar at 1pm-3pm AEDT on Monday 17 October to launch consultation on the revised Aged Care Quality Standards.
The webinar will explore:
- why we are undertaking an urgent review including the findings of the Royal Commission
- the review process to date including consultation with experts, older people, peak bodies and the aged care sector
- the strengthened Quality Standards and what changes are proposed
- opportunities available to have your say during the consultation period via focus groups and surveys.
You can submit questions for the panel Q&A session.
Consultation on the revised Aged Care Quality Standards will be open 17 October‑25 November.
Find out more and get involved at the Ageing and Aged Care Engagement Hub.
Consultation: a new approach to regulating aged care
The department is leading the development of a new approach to regulating aged care in consultation with the aged care sector, older Australians, their families and carers.
We have released Consultation Paper No.1 – A new model for regulating aged care, and invite feedback on the new model through the department’s Ageing and Aged Care Engagement Hub. Submissions close 10 October 2022.
The new approach will help ensure appropriate rules are in place for aged care providers to deliver safe and quality services.
Further consultation papers will be published in a staged process in the coming months.
To find out about upcoming engagement activities, subscribe to the department’s Ageing and Aged Care Engagement Hub.
Aged care reform pulse survey
The department wants to hear from aged care stakeholders to understand the current level of awareness of the aged care reforms, and how prepared you feel for upcoming aged care changes and activities. Your input is important to us.
You can help shape the implementation of aged care reforms by completing a short survey – it should take no longer than 10 minutes.
The survey closes on 7 October. Please share this link and encourage others to be involved.
We will be conducting similar surveys every 8 weeks, so be sure to have your say.
Webinar recording: Introduction to aged care reforms – a regulatory perspective
On 8 and 13 September 2022, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission hosted the first of its reform webinars. The ‘Introduction to aged care sector reform – a regulatory perspective’ webinar provided an overview of the new Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Act, focussing on regulation of:
- the extension of SIRS to home services
- the introduction of a Code of Conduct for Aged Care
- strengthened provider governance
- the use of restricted practices.
The webinar recordings, and details on upcoming reform webinars, are available on the Commission’s website. Q&As for the webinars will shortly be available via this link.
Providers are encouraged to share the link with colleagues unable to attend the live events.
AN-ACC funding guide and reporting training videos
The Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) commences on 1 October 2022.
An AN-ACC Funding Guide is now available to provide guidance on the new funding model. It will help providers understand how to receive AN‑ACC subsidies for aged care residents, including any compliance requirements.
A recording of the AN-ACC webinar held on 30 August 2022 is also available, as well as videos to help providers with AN-ACC reporting into the Quarterly Financial Report:
- Care costs and care minutes reporting
- Allied health reporting
- Registered nurse care minutes reporting
For more information to help you get ready for AN-ACC see the provider checklists and aged care funding reform webpage.
AN-ACC funding helpdesk offline for Labour Day public holiday
The AN-ACC Funding Helpdesk will be offline on Monday 3 October 2022 for the Labour Day public holiday (NSW, ACT and SA).
On 3 October, calls made to the Helpdesk will not be answered. If leaving a voicemail, please provide a contact name and phone number so Helpdesk staff can return your call when back online. Emails sent to the Helpdesk will be responded to on Tuesday 4 October or soon after.
The department encourages providers to contact the Helpdesk during business hours, for advice about the new Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding arrangements, which commences on 1 October 2022.
Contact the AN-ACC Funding Helpdesk by calling (02) 4406 6002 or emailing ANACCfundinghelpdesk@health.gov.au
Register now: Services Australia webinar on AN-ACC
Services Australia is hosting a webinar at 10am-11.30am AEST on Wednesday 28 September to help aged care providers prepare for the new Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model.
The webinar will include information about:
- system changes to support AN-ACC
- the Aged Care Provider Portal
- updated payment statements
- Palliative Care and Emergency Leave changes
- educational resources available.
For technical information and APIs for software developers, visit the Health Systems Developer Portal.
Providers can access Health Professionals Education (HPE) Resources or find out more about residential aged care reform on the Department of Health and Aged Care's website.
Survey: Payment Platform for in-home aged care providers
The department wants to hear from in-home aged care providers and employees, particularly operational and financial officers, to understand how organisations currently manage in-home aged care systems and how they could be complemented. This includes client bookings, staff rostering, invoicing/payments and reporting.
Our Payment Platform survey is now open, and we encourage you to have your say by 14 October, and share this survey with your networks.
We will use the survey results to guide the design of payment arrangements, as part of the reforms to in-home aged care.
If you have any questions about the survey, email sah.implementation@health.gov.au