The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards have been updated
We’ve recently released an updated draft of the strengthened Quality Standards. This version reflects insights and feedback received during consultation in October and November 2022.
A Consultation Summary Report has also been released with details on how we sought views on the Standards and what we heard. Consultation included more than 900 people across 18 focus groups; 1069 webinar attendees; 873 survey responses and 119 submissions.
The strengthened Standards are now being tested through a pilot program conducted by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. The pilot will test how the Standards work in practice and involves a sample of 40 providers representing diverse service types, sizes, locations and people receiving aged care.
Read the latest news on the department’s Review of the Aged Care Quality Standards webpage.
IHACPA release of AN-ACC pricing advice
The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) has released its Residential Aged Care Pricing Advice 2023‑24 to Government. This informed the new Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) price of $243.10, starting on 1 July 2023. The Technical Specifications detail IHACPA’s pricing methodology.
AN-ACC prices are set annually informed by independent advice from IHACPA to ensure funding aligns with the actual costs of delivering care.
IHACPA has also released the Pricing Framework for Australian Residential Aged Care Services 2023‑24 and Towards an Aged Care Pricing Framework Consultation Report to support IHACPA’s first pricing advice to Government.
For more information see:
- Media release: IHACPA supports a new era of residential aged care pricing advice
- Webpage: Funding higher wages in residential aged care
or contact enquiries.ihacpa@ihacpa.gov.au
How Dementia Support Australia can help
The Australian Government-funded Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) and Severe Behaviour Response Teams (SBRT) provide both telehealth and in-person support in caring for people experiencing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Aged care providers, family members, primary care and acute care services can request support from Dementia Support Australia online at www.dementia.com.au or via the 24/7 phoneline on 1800 699 799.
Experienced dementia behaviour consultants will conduct tailored assessments to understand the person living with dementia’s situation. An individualised program of support that takes into account the frequency, intensity and risk of behaviours will be developed and may also be supported by medical specialist input in partnership with local general practitioners.
Services are free and available from anywhere in Australia.
Webinar: Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement
The Australian Government has introduced the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ILA) to streamline the recruitment of qualified direct care workers from overseas to work in aged care.
The Department of Home Affairs is hosting a webinar for providers about the Aged Care ILA on Thursday 15 June at 11am-12pm AEST.
The webinar will cover:
- how to use the Aged Care ILA to fill vacancies in direct care occupations when there are not enough Australian workers available
- Memorandum of Understanding with aged care employee unions
- skills assessment process for overseas workers.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the webinar.
Find more information and register.
If you have any questions or need help registering, contact AgedCareWorkforceReform@health.gov.au
Commission webinar: Stronger Standards, Better Aged Care Program
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) is holding a webinar on the Stronger Standards, Better Aged Care Program on Tuesday 20 June at 1pm–2pm AEST.
Lisa Peterson PSM, Assistant Commissioner Sector Capability, will discuss how the program will support the rollout of the strengthened Quality Standards, developed as part of the urgent review of the Aged Care Quality Standards.
The webinar will also cover how the program will help:
- older people receiving care understand what they should expect from their providers
- providers be clear about their obligations to the people receiving their care
- the Commission be prepared to implement the new audit methodology.
The webinar will include a Q&A session and participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance via the registration process.
Consultation open: Draft National Strategy for the Care and Support Economy
The Australian Government is seeking feedback on the recently released draft National Strategy for the Care and Support Economy.
The care and support economy is one of the fastest growing parts of the Australian economy. The aged care, disability support, veterans’ care and early childhood sectors provide vital social infrastructure and support for those needing these services, and their families and carers.
The draft Strategy sets a shared vision for improving the quality, accessibility and sustainability of the care and support economy.
Join the conversation and share your feedback by 26 June through the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s website.
Aged care workforce insights to support decision making
The Aged Care Workforce Industry Council (ACWIC) has released new data to support aged care providers make evidence-based decisions about their workforce.
Frontline Insights from Aged Care Workers contains key insights into the aged care workforce based on 172,000 workplace survey responses collected from 2009 to 2022.
Employers can gain a deeper understanding of how employees feel about their roles, what attracts people to work in aged care, and the most common reasons they leave. There are also suggested actions to improve employee satisfaction and retention rates.
Providers can use the Frontline Insights to inform their workforce planning and support current employees to ensure they can continue to deliver quality care to older people.
Access the free Frontline Insights on the ACWIC website.
Trauma-informed care and mental health resources
The Human Services Skills Organisation (HSSO) and Phoenix Australia have partnered to create helpful resources to support trauma-informed practice and wellbeing in the workplace.
These resources introduce concepts of trauma-informed care and raise awareness of workers’ overall mental health and wellbeing. They include videos, printable materials and posters, and are available for residential care and home care workplaces.
The free resources can be accessed on the HSSO website.
Vision Australia webinar for RAS and ACAT assessors: Understanding low vision and blindness
Vision Australia is hosting a webinar on Wednesday 14 June at 12pm‑1pm AEST about understanding the impacts of vision loss and blindness.
Tailored specifically for those working as assessors within a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) or Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), this session will build your knowledge and confidence to discuss appropriate supports and goals with vision-impaired clients when completing assessments.
You will learn about:
- common eye conditions and their impact on vision
- how vision loss affects daily living
- strategies, aids and equipment for people with blindness or low vision
- selecting the relevant service types when referring vision impaired clients for services.
Quarterly Financial Report: New requirements for Quarter 4 for home care providers
The Government is investing $11.3 billion to deliver on its commitment to fund the outcome of the Fair Work Commission’s decision of a 15% increase to award wages for aged care workers. The increase to the award wage will take effect from 30 June 2023.
The Government expects that all additional funding provided to aged care providers is passed onto aged care workers’ wages.
As a result, we will need to collect additional information on wages from the next Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) for Quarter 4 (April to June 2023).
More information about the new data required from home care providers will follow in next week’s newsletter.
QFR Quarter 4 data is due by Friday 4 August.
Stocktake: Residential Aged Care Accommodation Design
As part of the Australian Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the department will be seeking information through a stocktake on the design of residential aged care accommodation.
This stocktake will also include the Multi-Purpose Services Program (MPS) and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFACP).
Your input to the stocktake will help support accuracy of data ahead of the introduction of the new Residential Accommodation Framework in 2024.
We encourage you to check your contact details are up to date in the National Approved Provider System (NAPS) to ensure you receive the stocktake request.