Quarterly Financial Report portal open for quarter 1 submissions
Providers can now submit their first Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) through the Forms Administration QFR portal. This report will cover quarter 1 of the 2022-23 financial year (July-September).
Quarter 1 QFR submissions are due by 4 November 2022. Providers are reminded that reports must be submitted by this date to ensure that care minutes data is accepted for Star Rating purposes.
A data collection helpdesk run by Forms Administration is available to assist providers completing the QFR. Providers are encouraged to call the helpdesk on (02) 4403 0640 or email enquiries to health@formsadministration.com.au.
Update your provider information on My Aged Care: Service Availability
Help older people see when your service has availability, by updating your information in the Service and Support Portal.
Recurring feedback from older people highlights service availability information as a key issue when using the My Aged Care website Find a provider tool.
If potential care recipients believe your service has availability only to find out otherwise when they contact you, it can have a negative impact on how they perceive your organisation.
The My Aged Care website has useful tips on updating your information, visit the Profile tips for service providers page.
Important SIRS reporting changes
As of Monday 3 October 2022, all incidents of unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct in residential aged care services must be reported as Priority 1 incidents under the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS).
Priority 1 reportable incidents must be reported to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission within 24 hours of the residential aged care provider becoming aware of the incident.
The SIRS reporting form in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal has been updated to reflect this new obligation.
Providers can now only select Priority 1 when reporting these incidents in the SIRS reporting form. They cannot be reported as Priority 2.
Aged care scholarships close 10 October
Aged care scholarship applications are open to nurses, personal care workers and allied health professionals working in aged care.
Eligible courses:
- commence or continue from Semester One 2023
- include Vocational Education Training, Undergraduate, Nursing Postgraduate and Allied Health Postgraduate
- are relevant to the care of older people, or leadership and management.
- include a completion bonus
There is a guaranteed allocation of scholarships for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Aged care workers can also apply for the:
- Mental Health Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Program
- Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme – available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students undertaking an undergraduate course in an eligible health related discipline.
Applications for all scholarships close on Monday 10 October 2022.
For more information visit the Australian College of Nursing website.
Webinar: Learn the ten steps to developing a diversity plan – register now
The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (PICAC Victoria) is hosting a webinar on Ten Steps to Developing a Diversity Plan at 1–2pm AEDT on Wednesday 19 October 2022.
This webinar aims to equip aged care staff and leaders in promoting cultural diversity. It will provide a 10-step process for developing a diversity, equity and inclusion plan within aged care services. This can help aged care services provide culturally safe, appropriate and inclusive care, aligned with the Aged Care Quality Standards.
Register for the Ten Steps to Developing a Diversity Plan webinar.
You can watch recordings of the Centre’s previous webinars for free, anytime. Webinars are posted to the website about two weeks after each session.
The webinar is part of the 2022–23 online Diversity Webinar Series.
National Aged Care Data Strategy consultation: A chance to have your say
The Department of Health and Aged Care is partnering with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) to progress a national aged care data system.
As part of this work, we will be hosting two webinars to talk with providers, advisory groups, aged care industry representatives, researchers, academics, older Australians and consumer groups, and hear your feedback on the data strategy.
Join us on either:
or
The webinars will cover our approach to developing the aged care data strategy and detail other opportunities to get involved.
The webinars will be run by representatives from the department, AIHW and Nous Group, who are supporting the consultations.
Advance notice: Visitors scheme grant round and webinar
The Community Visitors Scheme is being expanded and will be renamed the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme from July 2023.
Grant funding of $99.84 million over 3 years will be available for eligible organisations to deliver the new Scheme.
A Forecast Opportunity is available to help organisations prepare for the grant round. Find out more and register on the Grant Connect website.
A webinar will be held shortly after the grant round opens. There will be an opportunity to ask questions during the webinar or pre-submit a question when you register.
To register your interest in the webinar, contact CVS@health.gov.au
Changes to Find A Provider Tool in My Aged Care
From 1 October 2022, approvals for respite care will no longer be for low or high care. This has been replaced with a single respite approval and is reflected in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal.
As a result, ‘Residential respite low’ and ‘Residential respite high’ profiles for residential respite care providers have been replaced by a single ‘Residential Respite’ service item in the My Aged Care ‘Find A Provider Tool’.
Respite providers should check their My Aged Care profile and update their respite service description as required in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal.
See the My Aged Care – Provider Portal User Guide: Part 1 Administrator Functions for information on how to update your service information.
Also see profile tips for service providers.
Residential aged care means assessment under AN-ACC
The introduction of the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) has not changed the aged care means assessment, which determines:
- resident eligibility for government assistance with accommodation costs, and any payable contributions
- the payable means-tested care fee.
A resident’s means-tested care fee continues to be limited by the cost of their care, as determined by their adjusted basic subsidy and primary supplements.
The adjusted basic subsidy is calculated using the resident’s AN-ACC class and the Standard MMM 1‑4 Base Care Tariff, irrespective of the BCT category of the facility. This means the location of a service does not impact the means-tested care fee payable by residents.
Learn more on the Fees for people entering residential aged care from 1 July 2014 webpage on the department’s website.
Important changes to additional service fees under AN-ACC
Previously, residents with certain Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) classifications could be charged additional service fees for items in Part 3 of Schedule 1 within the Quality of Care Principles 2014 (Principles).
From 1 October 2022, the funding provided under the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) covers the cost of specified care and services provided for all residents. This means you can no longer charge additional service fees for items in Part 3 of Schedule 1, regardless of the resident’s AN-ACC classification.
With the resident’s agreement, an additional service fee can be charged for:
- services you are not otherwise required to provide, such as hairdressing and pay TV
- services that are substantially better than the requirements under Schedule 1 of the Principles.
Learn more on the Fees for people entering residential aged care from 1 July 2014 webpage on the department’s website.
Viewing residential respite classes in My Aged Care Service and Support Portal
With the introduction of the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) this week, classifications have been automatically assigned to respite residents who have not yet been assessed for an AN-ACC respite class.
For those who previously had an Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) residential respite approval, classifications will be:
- Respite class 101 – if residents had an ACFI ‘low respite’ approval
- Respite class 102 – if residents had an ACFI ‘high respite’ approval or both a ‘low respite’ and ‘high respite’ approval.
To view the classification for respite residents in your care, see the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal.
Requesting a reconsideration or reclassification for permanent and respite residents
With the introduction of the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC), residential aged care providers can now access the following functions in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal:
- request a reclassification for a respite resident if their care needs have changed
- request a reconsideration of an initial AN-ACC classification or reclassification decision. This request can be made within 28 days of the notification of a permanent or respite resident’s assessment outcome. Default classes and AN-ACC class 1 (palliative care) are exempt from the reconsideration process.
Instructions about these functions are available at My Aged Care – Provider Portal User Guide: Part 2 Team Leader and Staff Member Functions
The AN-ACC funding guide is also available for guidance on the new funding model.