Program assurance reviews
We conduct ongoing risk-based assurance reviews of Home Care Package providers to ensure providers are using funds appropriately and provide value for money for care recipients.
Learn more about our program assurance reviews.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC)
The ACQSC uses various regulatory tools and information to monitor and assess the performance of aged care providers.
This can include:
- information gathered from complaints or feedback
- onsite activities such as audits or other visits
- offsite activities such as telephone assessment contacts
- compulsory reports from aged care providers.
If the ACQSC finds a provider to be non-compliant with their responsibilities, it will take compliance or enforcement action.
In all circumstances, the ACQSC’s response is informed by the risk posed to the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life of care recipients.
Find more information on the obligations of approved providers.
Find out what happens if you fail to meet your obligations.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
The ACCC:
- enforces the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and other legislation
- promotes competition and fair trading
- regulates national infrastructure.
If you do not comply with consumer law, the ACCC may:
- impose serious financial penalties
- order corrective actions through the courts.
This may result in damage to your reputation.
The ACCC can investigate and act:
- where businesses mislead care recipients about pricing, including the reasons for price increases or the level and care of services you provide
- on unfair business practices, such as:
- how businesses promote, sell and deliver products and services
- what terms you use in contracts
- how you take payment from care recipients
- against businesses involved in price fixing and other anti-competitive behaviour (for example, collusion, exclusive dealing, misuse of market power).
Read more about on your obligations to care recipients, and your business rights.
Legislation
As a provider you are responsible for understanding and complying with all legislation that is relevant to delivering the Home Care Packages Program.
Home Care Packages operate under the:
- Aged Care Act 1997
- Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997
- Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) (Subsidy and Other Measures) Determination 2014
- Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Principles 2014
- Aged Care (Subsidy, Fees and Payments) Determination 2014
- Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 1) Act 2021, which amended the Aged Care Act 1997
- Aged Care Legislation Amendment (New Commissioner Functions) Act 2019
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018
- Accountability Principles 2014
- Fees and Payments Principles 2014
- Information Principles 2014
- Prioritised Home Care Recipients Principles 2016
- Quality of Care Principles 2014
- Records Principles 2014
- Subsidy Principles 2014
- User Rights Principles 2014
- Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988
- Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
Learn more
See full list of responsibilities in Appendix E of the Home Care Packages Program Operational Manual.