Features of the new model for regulating aged care

Learn more about the proposed features of the new regulatory model to improve the quality of care for older people in Australia.

We want to help the aged care sector continually improve their services.

The new model will be:

  • rights-based
  • person-centred
  • risk-proportionate
  • focused on continuous improvement.

We will achieve this using regulatory tools which we call safeguards. These safeguards cover:

  • supporting quality care – working with providers to lift the quality and safety of aged care services
  • becoming a provider – how entities become an aged care provider and remain suitable to provide aged care services
  • responsibilities of a provider – the obligations that providers must meet to:
    • deliver high-quality care
    • enhance protections, rights and delivery of services provided to older people
  • holding providers accountable – facilitating high-quality care and deterring poor performance through monitoring, compliance, and enforcement activities.

Key elements of the new model

Provider registration and obligations

When entering the sector, aged care providers will have:

  • entry requirements
  • ongoing obligations and responsibilities associated with registration.

Monitoring

Oversight of sector practices to identify or anticipate risks that can negatively impact older people receiving care. This includes reviewing and assessing compliance with regulatory obligations.

Oversight activities can include:

  • monitoring the provision of services
  • identifying risks of market failure
  • identifying financial and prudential risks.

Monitoring will be routine or responsive.

Compliance

Ensuring aged care providers and workers meet their obligations in delivering care and services.

Enforcement

The Regulator will take actions to address aged care providers or workers who are not meeting:

  • applicable laws
  • their responsibilities.

Enforcement actions may include civil and criminal penalties.

Information sharing

Processes will allow a ’tell us once, use multiple times‘ approach to information and data collection. This includes:

  • sector trends
  • provider information
  • regulatory intelligence.

These processes will reduce inefficient administrative practices, while safeguarding privacy rights.

Provider reporting

Reporting by providers to show compliance with their obligations.

Planned transition

Processes to help older people, the aged care sector and the regulator move from the current to the future model.

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