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Your Aged Care Update # 40/24

Notable dates

Maggie Beer Foundation training applications due
22 October

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Provider operations reporting due
31 October

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News about the reforms

Aged Care Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

On 10 October, the government introduced the Aged Care Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

This Bill will amend the Aged Care Act 1997. This will improve integrity, choice and fairness ahead of the New Aged Care Act commencing on 1 July 2025. 

The Bill includes changes to:

  • residential care data assurance reviews 

  • income and asset determinations and refundable deposit balances 

  • accommodation payments after voluntary moves within a service.  

Similar measures are also included in the New Act for when it commences. The amendment Bill ensures that these changes occur as soon as possible.

We will update you about these changes soon to ensure the sector is well prepared.

Public consultation on Aged Care Rules continues

Public consultation on the draft Rules for the new Aged Care Act continues, with an overview of the future ways of funding aged care services now available.

The overview covers the Rules for Chapter 4 of the Aged Care Bill 2024, and includes a range of topics including subsidies, contributions, means testing, accommodation and grants.

The full Rules will be available shortly, at which point you will be able to provide feedback.

Read more about the public consultation on the Aged Care Rules on our website.

New regulatory model nominated contacts

As we begin preparing to transition to the new regulatory model, we will contact Government-funded providers to confirm a nominated contact. 

A nominated contact is a person who can make decisions on behalf of the organisation, such as senior management, the CEO or Board Chair.

We will contact you from either:

  • NoReply@Qemailserver.com 

  • AgedCareRegModel@health.gov.au.

Please complete the short survey and include the name, position, email and phone number of the nominated contact for your organisation.

It is important you complete this survey within the assigned time frame. Once we have the completed survey, a secondary survey will be sent. This will include your proposed registration categories under the new regulatory model. 

If you have any questions, please email AgedCareRegModel@health.gov.au

Find out more about the regulatory model

Sector news

Aged Care Financial Reports due soon

Aged care providers need to complete their Aged Care Financial Report by 31 October.

This is an annual requirement for residential aged care, home care, multi-purpose and respite care providers.

What you report on depends on the type of service/s you provide. Read more about your reporting requirements.

If you need help with your submission, contact Forms Administration on (02) 4403 0640 or email Health@FormsAdministration.com.au.
 

Sector Performance Report

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) has published the latest Sector Performance Report for Quarter 4 (April to June).

It includes information on:

  • compliance, complaints and Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) data

  • feedback

  • provider supervision. 

ACQSC has changed how they present data by size and type of provider. The report also shows a more detailed picture of compliance and areas of concern.

Read the Sector Performance Report.

Residential care

3 new staffing quality indicators

From 1 April 2025, residential providers will be required to collect data on 3 new staffing quality indicators:

  • enrolled nursing

  • allied health

  • lifestyle officers.

The expansion from 11 to 14 quality indicators recognises the crucial role of staff in providing high-quality care.

You can collect staffing data from 1 April 2025 (Quarter 4, 2024–25). You will need to report Quarter 4 2024–25 staffing data through the Government Provider Management System (GPMS) by 21 July 2025.


Data for these indicators builds on existing reporting where possible. 4 of the 5 new data points that make up the 3 new indicators will come from the Quarterly Financial Report. This means no additional reporting burden for that data.   

We will publish more information to help you prepare for this change soon.  

Read more about the QI Program

Quality indicator reporting due

Quality Indicator reporting for residential aged care services for Quarter 1 (July to September) is due by 21 October

When you report quality indicator data, you need to use the file upload template in the Government Provider Management System (GPMS). If you are pasting information, use the ‘paste values’ function to keep the format.

You must not include residents’ personal information. If you do, this breaches your reporting obligations and residents’ privacy.

For help, see additional guidance on reporting via GPMS or refer to GPMS and Quality Indicator Program resources.

For technical support, please contact the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799 and select option 5.

Fact sheet: Care time reporting assessments

We have released a fact sheet on care time reporting assessments for residential aged care providers.

It will help you with:

  • understanding the reporting assessment process

  • learning what may be required for them

  • links to useful tools, resources and contacts.

Care time reporting assessments ensure accurate reporting and informed decision-making across the sector.

Read the fact sheet.

In-home care

Regional Assessment Service organisations map

We have developed an interactive map of Regional Assessment Service organisations (RAS) across Australia.

You can search by:

  • organisation name 

  • Aged Care Planning Region 

  • suburb

  • postcode.

The map will help the My Aged Care Contact Centre make referrals to RAS organisations for older people seeking to access the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. 

This map is in addition to the list of organisations by state, territory and region.

Workforce

Webinar Series: Cultural diversity in ageing

The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care Victoria) is running a free webinar series on cultural diversity for aged care providers.

The series will train people working in aged care on how to engage effectively with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The new series includes topics requested by the aged care sector. Attending sessions is counted as continuing professional development for nurses.

Making services culturally inclusive is a requirement of the Aged Care Quality Standards.

Register or find out more information.

Free business and workforce advice

The Aged Care Business and Workforce Advisory Service provides practical advice to eligible residential and in-home care providers. 

Eligible providers can apply for free and independent advice for business, financial and workforce challenges. The advice provided is confidential.

Read examples and case studies of services available through the Aged Care Business and Workforce Advisory Service.

To apply, you will need information about your organisation’s size, services delivered and workforce.

The service runs to 30 June 2025.

Find out more and apply.

National Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program

Would you know what to do if someone you support was experiencing thoughts of suicide?

Anglicare offers free suicide prevention training workshops.

This free 3 hour online course equips those who support older people with the knowledge to help prevent suicide. Learn to see the signs of suicide, have a conversation and refer the person to professional support.

To be eligible, you need to be supporting an older adult and have internet access. 

If you are interested, email Suicide.Prevention@Anglicare.org.au or visit suicide prevention for seniors.