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Your Aged Care Update # 34/24

Notable dates

Webinar: Financial reporting
10 September

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News about the reforms

Round open: Multi-Purpose Services allocations for residential care places

The 2024–25 Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) allocations round for residential care places is now open to approved MPS providers to:

  • expand existing MPS services; or

  • establish new MPS services.

There are up to 100 places available through a competitive application process. 

Applications close on 25 October.

The MPS Program combines Australian Government funding for aged care services with state and territory health services. This means small rural and remote communities can offer flexible aged care services that meet the needs of their community.

Read more about the MPS allocations round and download an application.

Please note that MPS home care places are not available in this round.

If you have any questions, please contact MPSAgedCare@health.gov.au.
 

Poll: Share your feedback on our respiratory illnesses articles

We ran a series of articles to support and help providers manage respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and Influenza over the winter period. To find out if these articles were helpful to you, we invite you to share your feedback through our poll:

Did you find the information in these articles helpful?

Yes

No

Some of it

Have you implemented the advice or guidance?

Applied all of it

Applied some of it

Didn't apply it

Were the articles your main source of guidance for dealing with respiratory illnesses in aged care?

Yes

No

If there are more comments you want to share or topics you would like covered ahead of next winter, please contact AgedCareCOVIDLiaison@health.gov.au.
 

Seeking your feedback on palliative care projects

The National Palliative Care Projects Evaluation Survey is now open for aged care providers and workers to give feedback on Australian Government funded:

  • National Palliative Care Projects

  • End-of-Life Directions for Aged Care.

The survey is part of an independent evaluation to understand whether these projects are supporting better palliative care delivery in Australia.

The survey closes on 30 September and takes 10 minutes to complete.

Take part in the survey and see a full list of projects being evaluated.

In-home care

Updated Home Care Package pricing report now available

The National summary of Home Care Package prices – 30 June 2024 report is now available.

The report outlines Home Care Packages Program pricing data for:

  • common home care services

  • care management

  • package management

  • staff travel.

At 30 June, the median nursing price was $120 per standard hour. Median prices for light gardening, in-home respite, personal care and cleaning/household tasks ranged from $72 to $75 per standard hour.

Also available is the Home Care Package – Published pricing schedule – 30 June 2024, which shows the full pricing data entered into My Aged Care by providers.
 

Workforce

2023 Aged Care Provider Workforce Survey report

Findings from the 2023 Aged Care Provider Workforce Survey were released on 27 August.

The survey (previously known as the Aged Care Workforce Census) estimates the number of staff employed in the aged care sector was 549,000 in 2023. The findings are available on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s GEN Aged Care Data website.

Aged care providers who participated in the survey can request a summary of their data by emailing ACWprovidersurvey@health.gov.au before 20 September.

Palliative care for people with an intellectual disability

People with intellectual disability face multiple barriers to accessing quality palliative care.

We encourage aged care providers to access free resources to help the workforce deliver quality palliative care to people with an intellectual disability, including: 

  • a tailored model of care for people with intellectual disability

  • toolkit for health professionals

  • toolkit for people with intellectual disability and supporters 

  • easy read story to help people with an intellectual disability understand what good palliative care is. 

Read and download the toolkits and resources

Career Pathways workshops now open

Career Pathways workshops will be held around Australia from August to September for people working in the aged, disability and veterans’ care sectors.   

HumanAbility will run the workshops as part of the Career Pathways Project. They will provide:

  • information on how these care sectors can find clear and rewarding career paths

  • an opportunity for leaders, managers and specialists to share insights on workforce development.

The Career Pathways Project aims to attract more workers to these sectors and support retention by:

  • identifying career options and pathways 

  • understanding training needs 

  • supporting workers to build career progressing skills and make rewarding career plans.

Find out more about the project and register for a workshop on the HumanAbility website.