In this consultation we asked for feedback on adding 3 new quality indicators. They covered enrolled nursing, allied health and lifestyle services.
We heard from a range of people and organisations including:
- aged care providers
- aged care residents
- workforce organisations and unions
- peak bodies for nursing, allied health and lifestyle services
- technology providers.
We received feedback through:
- 110 people who completed a survey
- 24 written responses to our public consultation paper
- 900+ people who attended webinars.
We also received feedback through a 6-week pilot in March with 69 residential aged care services. The services were:
- from various states and territories
- of varying service sizes and types.
Insights from this consultation helped us develop how the new indicators will work.
What we heard
Overall, people supported adding 3 quality indicators to the QI Program for nursing, allied health and lifestyle services. They viewed it as a positive step towards recognising the value that enrolled nurses, allied health professionals and lifestyle officers bring to the aged care sector.
Key findings
Participants agreed:
- Care minutes data from the Quarterly Financial Report is a useful snapshot for service providers.
- Quarterly Financial Reporting data is already collected, so is well understood by service providers. Using it for new quality indicators is a useful way to view information already reported through a quality improvement lens.
- Care minutes are a useful overview of an aged care home's current care practices.
- A quality indicator for allied health should consider aged care residents' diverse and changing allied health care needs.
- There is limited international evidence around lifestyle quality indicators -- Australia can lead the way in this area.
What we're doing
Feedback received from the consultation and pilot informed the government's decision on what indicators were introduced to the expanded QI Program.
On 1 April 2025, 3 new staffing quality indicators for enrolled nursing, allied health and lifestyle officers were introduced.