Your Aged Care Update # 23/24
Notable dates
Notable dates
Aged Care Reforms Sector Pulse Survey
Closes 21 June
Webinar: Delivering palliative care
25 June
Sector news
Changes to next Quarterly Financial Report
There are two changes to the next Quarterly Financial Report (Quarter 4, 2023-24).
Approved residential aged care providers need to report outbreak management expenditure. There are also updated definitions for allied health (except allied health assistants).
Outbreak management expenditure includes the costs of planning for, and managing, outbreaks of gastroenteritis, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and other infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
We make decisions on outbreak management support based on reported information. Accurate reporting is crucial.
Updated allied health definitions make it clear that telehealth (such as video conference) arrangements can contribute towards care costs. This change applies to all approved providers.
Submissions for the Quarter 4 Quarterly Financial Report are due 4 August 2024. Reporting opens early July.
Access Quarterly Financial Report resources for Quarter 4.
Nominate someone inspiring for an Australian of the Year Award
Do you know an older person who has achieved incredible things, or someone dedicated to helping older people?
Acknowledge the amazing work they do by nominating them for an Australian of the Year Award.
Whether they’re an older person making Australia a better place, or someone of any age making a positive difference to the lives of older people, nominating them shows their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
The Australian of the Year Awards has been celebrating the achievements and contributions of inspiring Australians for the last 65 years. Help continue this tradition and celebrate ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Nominate someone now – nominations close 31 July.
Podcast: Conversations to transform aged care
You can now listen to season 4 of the Governing for Reform in Aged Care podcast. Produced by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, each episode features industry experts discussing topical aged care issues.
Conversations include:
Reform and organisational strategy with Bernadette Gotch, CEO of Home Care Provider, KinCare
How leaders can foster a culture of risk and innovation with Professor Sue Gordon, Flinders University and Research Director, Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation
An international perspective on meeting the needs of older people with Dr Lisa Trigg, Assistant Director of Research, Data and Innovation, Social Care, Wales
Listen to episodes of Governing for Reform in Aged Care - Podcasts on the Commission's website.
Webinar: Vaccinations and preparing for outbreaks
This webinar is for aged care providers and workers. It will help you prepare for and manage an infectious disease outbreak in your home or service.
When: Thursday 20 June, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (AEST)
Topics include:
the importance of vaccinations
updated Communicable Diseases Network Australia Guidelines
PPE and masks
oral antiviral treatments
workforce planning.
Residential care
Infection prevention and control in winter
Preparation to minimise the spread of infectious respiratory diseases, such as COVID-19 and influenza, during winter is essential.
Providers are responsible for ensuring systems are in place including:
infection prevention and control (IPC) process oversight, audit and monitoring
disease outbreak prevention, detection and management, including workforce, communication, visitation and waste management strategies
supplies of personal protective equipment for both workers and visitors
providing vaccines in line with current recommended doses, antiviral therapy and access to medical services
staff education and competency training, including in IPC.
If you need help to prepare, please refer to:
COVID-19 information for Board Chairs of residential aged care providers
Vaccination information for residential aged care service providers
Grants for regional, rural, remote and First Nations aged care services
There is $200 million of funding available for residential aged care services in regional, rural, remote locations. This includes funding for First Nations aged care services in any area. This is part of our Aged Care Capital Assistance Program.
Eligibility has expanded to include all regional areas. Grants are also available to help providers build and improve services for First Nations communities in any location, including major cities.
Find out more at GrantConnect (GO6969) including eligibility information.
Applications close Thursday 29 August.
Voluntary Monthly Care Statements
We encourage all aged care homes to offer residents and their representatives Monthly Care Statements from 1 October 2024.
This is a voluntary opportunity to improve communication about health and wellbeing before Monthly Care Statements become mandatory.
You’re likely already recording the information included in Monthly Care Statements. They are a great way to keep residents and their loved ones informed. They also help you review care management plans and address concerns in a timely way.
Over the coming months, we will publish information about:
how to start giving written or verbal statements
a pilot of digital solutions
when Monthly Care Statements will become mandatory.
For more information, visit Monthly Care Statements for residential aged care.
Free training for kitchen staff – applications still open
Applications for the next Maggie Beer Foundation Trainer Mentor Program have been extended until 24 June 2024.
Qualified chef trainers will help your kitchen team work more efficiently and effectively by teaching them:
how to make best use of the specific equipment in your kitchen
which techniques work best for which ingredient, dish or mealtime
how to source quality products.
This can free up more time to cook flavourful, nutritious food for your residents. It may also help you meet regulatory requirements.
Training is free, delivered on-site in your aged care home and tailored to your kitchen’s needs.
Submit your application by 24 June.
Workforce
Free online training: Culturally inclusive service delivery
The Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care NSW/ACT) is hosting a free online training course for people working in aged care.
The short and informative course will help you support older people in your care from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Ensuring your services are culturally inclusive is a requirement of the Aged Care Quality Standards.
Enrol now.
The course can be done anytime and is part of the CALDWays webinar series.
Watch recordings of previous CALDWays webinars.
Virtual reality training for dementia care
Training is available to help aged care workers respond to dementia-related behavioural emergencies.
With support from Dementia Training Australia and the Australian Government, Dementia Australia is offering a new, free virtual reality training workshop called D-Esc.
The workshop covers:
how to recognise the emotional and physical signs that behaviour is escalating
understanding the impacts of stress on a person living with dementia
de-escalation skills and techniques
how to reduce risks of harm for aged care workers and people living with dementia.
The D-Esc in-person workshops are free and available across Australia and run until 30 June 2025.
For more information and to make a group booking, visit the Dementia Australia website.
If you have questions about eligibility, contact development@dementia.org.au.
Webinar: Personality disorders in aged care settings
Join Swinburne University’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for a webinar on common personality disorder presentations.
This webinar is for people working in aged care, as well as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and volunteers who work with older people.
The webinar will discuss assessment and treatment strategies of personality disorders in acute, community and residential aged care settings.
When: Friday 28 June, 4:45 pm to 6:00 pm (AEST).
Register now.