Your Aged Care Update # 15/24

Notable dates

Webinar: Aged care costs data collection
24 April

Register now

Aged Care Worker Survey 2024
Closes 30 April

Take survey

In this issue

    News about the reforms

    Answering your questions: New Quality Standards video

    The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has released the third episode of the Up to Standard video series. The series answers some common questions about the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.

    Episode 3 discusses the main changes from the current Standards to the strengthened Quality Standards. It explains how providers will be assessed against the strengthened standards, and possible further changes.

    If you have any questions or feedback about the strengthened Quality Standards, please email agedcarereform@agedcarequality.gov.au.

    Find more information on the Stronger Standards, Better Aged Care Program.  

    Sector news

    Business to Government Gateway established

    Business to Government (B2G) enables streamlined reporting direct from providers to government systems.

    Our B2G Gateway is now available to support reporting on the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility.

    The use of B2G requires your organisation’s software to be conformant. This means software vendors must ensure they meet certain specifications and technical requirements to connect with Government.

    B2G will continue to expand with Quality Indicator reporting expected to be available in the coming months.

    If you are a provider interested in connecting to B2G, please talk to your software vendor or IT operations team.

    Read more about the Aged care Business to Government (B2G) initiative.

    If you would like to get involved in co-design activities for B2G, you can register for the Digital Transformation Sector Partners.
     

    Have a say: Infection prevention and control guide

    The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care wants to hear from you about the draft Aged Care Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guide.

    The guide is intended to support aged care organisations to meet the IPC-related actions of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and to minimise the risk of infection for older people and the workforce.

    Complete the online survey by 15 May 2024. Your feedback will help improve the new guide. 

    For more information, read and download IPC resources or email: HAI@safetyandquality.gov.au.
     

    Webinar: Translating and interpreting services for aged care

    We are holding a webinar on free translating and interpreting services available to the aged care sector.

    When: Tuesday 14 May, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm (AEST)

    The webinar will explain how providers can use free services to communicate with older people from diverse backgrounds in different languages.

    Representatives from the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia, Partners In Culturally Appropriate Care and Think HQ will join us to discuss:

    • Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National

    • free aged care translation service

    • how to use these services.

    The webinar will include a live Q&A and you can also submit questions when you register.

    Register now


    A recording of the webinar will be available on webinars for the aged care sector.

    Help to manage severe weather events

    The impacts of severe weather can be daunting, particularly in aged care. If you need support, there is help available.

    Flood and storm information and support can be found on our website and natural disaster support on the Services Australia website.

    Once you’ve received the all-clear to return home from your local council or SES, the Recovery Basics: looking after yourself during and after disasters booklet from the Red Cross has information on the physical, emotional and mental toll of disasters.

    The ABC Emergency website also provides information on general recovery, flood, bushfire, storm or cyclone and heatwaves.

    During severe weather, please listen to instructions given by emergency services. Important messages are often played on your local ABC radio.

    Residential care

    Star Ratings provider preview available

    The latest update to Star Ratings is available for preview in the Government Provider Management System (GPMS). 

    The preview opened on 22 April 2024 and will be available for 2 weeks. It includes updates to: 

    • Staffing and Quality Measures ratings data for October to December 2023

    • Residents’ Experience ratings for homes that completed their annual survey in February 2024 

    • contemporary Compliance ratings.  

    Access GPMS user guide: Star Ratings for more information and support. 

    For support, please call the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799.

    Get ready for winter: order your PPE and RAT kits now

    Winter is on its way, now is the time to get ready for outbreaks of COVID-19 and influenza. 

    Providers should check their stock levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) and rapid antigen test (RAT) kits and order supplies in advance. 

    From 1 May, providers need to order PPE and RAT kits through commercial suppliers. They will no longer be available from the National Medical Stockpile.  

    Using PPE minimises the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19 and influenza. 

    When using PPE, providers should take a risk-based approach and be up to date with local state or territory health advice.  

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

    Webinar: Creative arts and mental health care

    Join Swinburne University’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for a webinar on adapting cognitive-behavioural therapy for people living in aged care homes.

    This webinar is for people working in aged care, as well as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and volunteers who work with older people. 

    When: Friday 3 May, 4:45 pm to 6:00 pm (AEST) 

    A panel of creative arts practitioners will discuss using dance, music and art to enhance the emotional wellbeing of residents with cognitive and physical difficulties. 

    Register now.

    In-home care

    CHSP growth funding grant opportunities now open

    Two grant opportunities are open for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) on GrantConnect, both closing 31 May 2024. 


    CHSP Growth Funding 2024-25 Grant Opportunity (GO6887)

    • Objective: Increase availability of domestic assistance, allied health and therapy, transport services and home maintenance in identified aged care planning regions.  

    • Eligibility: Current CHSP providers, as well as providers across aged care, disability and veterans care.  

    CHSP First Nations Growth Funding 2024-25 Grant Opportunity (GO6888)

    • Objective: Expand culturally safe CHSP services for First Nations older people.   

    • Eligibility: Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations with experience in aged care, disability and primary health. 

    Successful providers will receive a grant agreement for 1 October 2024 to 30 June 2025 and will be included in the 2025-2027 CHSP funding extension process.   

    Read more about CHSP growth funding.

    Workforce

    Free training on working with diverse communities

    Enrol in a free online course on working with emerging culturally and linguistically diverse communities

    The Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care NSW/ACT) is running free online training for people working in aged care.

    The short and informative course will help you work with people from cultural and linguistic backgrounds. It focuses on new and emerging culturally diverse groups in Australia.

    Making sure your services are culturally inclusive is required to meet the Aged Care Quality Standards. 

    Enrol now.

    The course can be done anytime and is part of the CALDWays webinar series. You can also watch recordings of previous CALDWays webinars for free, anytime.

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    Aged Care Quality Bulletin #64 - April 2024

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    Your Aged Care Update # 14/24