Your Aged Care Update # 38
Notable dates
Webinar: Quarterly Financial Reporting. What’s changed
5 October 2023
Quality Indicator reporting now open
1 October 2023
Webinar: Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy
For workforce and the sector- 24 October 2023
In this issue
Sector News
Aged care reporting due soon
A series of reports on aged care provider operations and finances are due over the next month.
Due 31 October 2023
Provider Operations
Residential and home care providers must submit Provider Operations information through the Collection Form on the Government Provider Management System (GPMS).
Financial Reporting
Approved providers must submit an Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR) through Forms Administration.
Non-government providers must also submit an audited General Purpose Financial Statement (GPFS).
An Annual Prudential Compliance Statement (APCS) and audit option is required if, at any point during the reported financial year, a provider held:
refundable deposits
accommodation bonds
entry contributions.
Due 4 November 2023
Quarterly Financial Report
Quarter 1 2023-24 reports are due through Forms Administration.
Webinar: Hiring mature aged workforce - investing in experience
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations is hosting the webinar Mature Age Workforce: Investing in Experience.
When: Wednesday 11 October, 1:00 pm (AEDT)
Hear from industry experts and employer guest speakers about how age diversity can bring experience to your business and improve productivity. Learn practical recruitment strategies and the benefits of tapping into the mature age talent pool.
This webinar is part of the series Hiring Outside the Box! which focuses on the benefits of exploring new pools of talent and hiring a diverse and inclusive team.
Register for this webinar now.
Free diversity program for aged care providers
We are funding a program delivered by the Older Persons’ Advocacy Network (OPAN) to help aged care providers identify diverse communities who are not accessing aged care services and provide practical assistance to meet their needs.
This free national diversity program includes:
two face-to-face workshops
an online session
access to a Community of Practice.
Participation will help providers identify strategies to deliver culturally safe, appropriate and inclusive care tailored to the needs of each older person.
Workshops are currently rolling out across NSW. For more information and to register, visit the OPAN website.
Webinar: Diversity of thought - a shared approach to leadership in aged care
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is delivering the webinar: Diversity of thought: A shared approach to leadership in aged care.
When: Wednesday 11 October 2023 12pm to 1pm (AEDT)
This session will discuss:
how having representatives from diverse groups in an organisation’s leadership team cultivates innovation and consumer-centred care that considers each individual’s background and circumstances
ways that governing bodies can foster diverse leadership to strengthen their organisation.
Enrol in the Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program to register for this free webinar.
Webinar: End of life and palliative care - what you need to know
The Swinburne Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults will hold a free webinar on dispelling the misconceptions of palliative care. End of life and palliative care: what you need to know.
When: Friday 13 October, 4:45pm to 6:00pm (AEDT)
This webinar is for people employed in aged care, as well as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and volunteers who work with older adults. This presentation includes clinical examples of manifestations of trauma in delirium and the impact of trauma on older people.
Social worker Jo Wood and palliative medicine specialist Clinical Professor Leeroy William will highlight the role of palliative care and showcase new service delivery models for Australia.
Find out more and register for the webinar.
In-home care
Care minutes targets are now mandatory
Care minutes targets for residential aged care homes became mandatory on 1 October 2023.
Targets for the October – December 2023 quarter are based on residents that were in care from June to August 2023. Care minutes targets will be updated quarterly.
Providers can see their service-level care minutes targets in the My Aged Care service and support portal.
A list of service-level care minutes targets is also available on the department’s website.
For the latest information see:
How mandatory care minutes will be regulated (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s website).
24/7 registered nurse reporting for September 2023 due now
24/7 registered nurse (RN) reporting for the month of September is due through the Government Provider Management System (GPMS) by Saturday 7 October 2023.
Providers that fail to report:
may be referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
will not receive any 24/7 RN supplement for September (if eligible)
will be recorded as not having completed their 24/7 RN reporting responsibility in the report published on our website.
24/7 RN coverage reported in August:
Registered nurse coverage in residential aged care dashboard
Registered nurse coverage in residential aged care facilities
For reporting extensions, email anaccoperations@health.gov.au. These will only be granted under exceptional circumstances, such as major IT system issues or a situation of emergency.
Webinar: How to connect older people with smart technology
Vision Australia is delivering the webinar: How to connect older people with smart technology, for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers.
When: Monday 16 October, 11:30am (AEDT)
Hundreds of Vision Australia CHSP recipients use Echo Dot to access information and remain connected to friends and family.
This webinar will include:
how the Echo Dot pilot project has been scaled into a national program
examples of how Echo Dot has enhanced older people’s social participation and independence
what participants have to say
challenges and advice on connecting older people with smart technologies
practical advice on introducing this technology to your clients.
Register for this webinar now
If you’re unable to join, another session will be held in November. Further details to come.
Any questions? Email Reeni.Ekanayake@visionaustralia.org
Residential care
Care minutes targets are now mandatory
Care minutes targets for residential aged care homes became mandatory on 1 October 2023.
Targets for the October – December 2023 quarter are based on residents that were in care from June to August 2023. Care minutes targets will be updated quarterly.
Providers can see their service-level care minutes targets in the My Aged Care service and support portal.
A list of service-level care minutes targets is also available on the department’s website.
For the latest information see:
How mandatory care minutes will be regulated (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s website).
24/7 registered nurse reporting for September 2023 due now
24/7 registered nurse (RN) reporting for the month of September is due through the Government Provider Management System (GPMS) by Saturday 7 October 2023.
Providers that fail to report:
may be referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
will not receive any 24/7 RN supplement for September (if eligible)
will be recorded as not having completed their 24/7 RN reporting responsibility in the report published on our website.
24/7 RN coverage reported in August:
Registered nurse coverage in residential aged care dashboard
Registered nurse coverage in residential aged care facilities
For reporting extensions, email anaccoperations@health.gov.au. These will only be granted under exceptional circumstances, such as major IT system issues or a situation of emergency.
Webinar: Improving quality in residential aged care
We are hosting a webinar to help residential aged care providers identify ways to improve quality outcomes in their aged care homes.
When: Thursday 2 November, 2pm to 3pm (AEDT)
This webinar will be a practical session where we’ll share:
what is quality improvement and why does it matter
how Star Ratings and the QI Program can be used as tools for quality improvement
making our resources work for you
what’s working in the sector: practical examples from residential aged care homes
hot topics: addressing common feedback
live question and answer session.
Register to attend the webinar now.
You can also submit questions for the ‘hot topics’ and ‘question and answer’ sessions.
A recording of the webinar will be shared on our website.