Support at Home program to commence from 1 July 2025
The new Support at Home program will now be implemented from 1 July 2025. An extra 12 months will allow time to refine the program, with input from experts across a range of design elements and further consultation with older people and providers.
The 1 July 2025 start date will also ensure providers are well prepared for the reforms and avoid disruption for care recipients.
All existing in-home aged care services will continue until 30 June 2025.
Read more about in-home aged care reforms in the 2023-24 Budget and visit Reforming in-home aged care to stay up to date.
Get involved: Provider workforce survey opens tomorrow
Aged care providers selected to participate in the Aged Care Provider Workforce Survey can complete the online survey from 31 May.
The survey will provide a unique insight into the aged care workforce with data not systematically collected elsewhere. This is critical for monitoring the workforce and developing policy that addresses workforce challenges.
It is mandatory for selected providers to complete the survey. A representative sample of providers completing the survey will improve the data validity and reliability.
Selected providers will receive a survey link from the Social Research Centre (SRC). Providers can also volunteer to participate.
The survey will be open until 30 June. For more information, visit the SRC website or contact acpws@srcentre.com.au
Governing for Reform in Aged Care: Coaching available
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is offering free coaching sessions to all governing body and executive team members of approved providers, as part of the Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program.
The Program is designed to support the capability of governing body members. Coaching sessions are facilitated by governance and aged care specialists and tailored to your organisation's needs.
This is an opportunity for your executive team and governing bodies to improve their competency and comprehension of effective leadership and governance practices.
Find out more and register your interest in participating.
Webinar: Reminiscence therapy
Join Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for its upcoming webinar on reminiscence therapy on Friday 9 June 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.
Professor Sunil Bhar from Swinburne University’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults will define reminiscence therapy, showcase reminiscence techniques and provide an understanding of how reminiscence can improve mental health outcomes for older adults.
Find out more information and register for the webinar.
Home Care Packages subsidy increase: fact sheets
The department has published a provider fact sheet and care recipient fact sheet about the 11.9% increase to the Home Care Packages (HCP) subsidy rate (including annual indexation) from 1 July 2023.
This subsidy increase will pass on the Fair Work Commission’s 15% award wage increase and ensure HCP recipients continue to receive the same level of care and services. This increase is less than 15% to account for many care recipients using their HCP to access goods, equipment, allied health and home modifications, which are not impacted by the wage increase, alongside their nursing and personal care services.
The department is sending a letter to all care recipients and their authorised representatives to notify them of this change.
If HCP providers need to adjust their pricing models and reasonably increase charges for care and services, they must seek agreement from care recipients.
In their conversation, providers should:
- provide a copy of the department’s letter to care recipients, in case they have not yet received it in their mail
- provide a copy of the care recipient fact sheet
- explain the reasons for any price changes, including how increases to award wages contribute to any price increases
- update home care agreements.
For more information, visit the department’s website.
CHSP providers: Grant funding to support wage rise
In July 2023, Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers will receive a one-off early grant payment that covers 6 months from July to December 2023. This will ensure eligible aged care workers can start to receive increases to award wages from 30 June 2023.
This will provide support while we finalise a new grant for CHSP providers to apply for funding to meet the costs associated with wage increases, including leave liabilities.
Providers must manage this funding sustainably until monthly payments re-commence in January 2024.
Further information about the grant opportunity will be available in the coming weeks on Grant Connect and CHSP news.
Vision Australia webinar: Vision loss tips – for CHSP providers
Vision Australia is presenting a webinar on Wednesday 7 June at 1pm–2pm AEST about how providers in the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) can support older people experiencing vision loss.
The webinar will cover tips on:
- how to ensure vision-impaired clients are safe and comfortable when receiving services in their home
- practical ways to help people with low vision in social and community settings
- strategies to ensure programs are inclusive.
This session will help providers interact confidently and respectfully with vision-impaired clients to continue to support them to live independently.
Temporary threshold for 24/7 registered nurse supplement
From 1 July 2023, a temporary threshold of an average of 20 hours of registered nurse (RN) coverage per day will apply to the 24/7 RN supplement. This is to help providers build up their staffing while they transition to the new 24/7 RN responsibility.
Facilities may receive the supplement if they:
- meet the temporary RN coverage threshold
- have no more than 60 residents per day (based on occupied bed days) on average over a calendar month
- correctly report RN coverage by the 7th calendar day of the following month.
Payment of the supplement does not indicate compliance with the 24/7 RN responsibility.
For more information, register for the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility webinar to be held on Thursday 1 June at 2pm–3pm AEST.
REMINDER: Webinar this Thursday, 1 June: 24/7 registered nurse responsibility for residential aged care
Are you prepared for the introduction of the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility on 1 July 2023?
It’s not too late to register for the department’s webinar on Thursday 1 June at 2pm‑3pm AEST to learn more about:
- reporting obligations and data quality
- the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility supplement
- updates to workforce initiatives.
You can submit questions during registration and ask questions during the webinar. Following the webinar, a recording and presentation slides will be published on the department’s website.
Read more information and register.