Your Aged Care Update # 42
Sector News
Reminder: Provider reporting due
Aged care providers are reminded that critical reporting requirements are due from today Tuesday 31 October.
Provider Operations reporting:
Residential and home care providers reporting on additional information about their operations for the first time are to submit via the Provider Operations Collection Form in GPMS by 11.59pm today 31 October.
If you require technical assistance, please contact the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799.
For more information visit the Strengthening provider governance in aged care webpage.
Other upcoming reporting requirements:
Aged Care Financial Report due today, 31 October – Forms Administration
Quarterly Financial Report due 4 November – Forms Administration
24/7 registered nurse report for October due by 7 November - GPMS
Please note, all residential aged care providers must submit their 24/7 registered nurse report even if the facility is exempt from the 24/7 RN responsibility.
Governing for Reform in Aged Care: Podcast season 3 now available
The third season of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s Governing for Reform in Aged Care podcast series is now available.
The podcasts are part of the free program Governing for Reform in Aged Care, which is aimed at governing body members and aged care leaders.
Podcast host Susan Staples navigates the reforms in conversation with industry leaders and subject matter experts. Topics include:
moving from a governing body member role to an executive role
strategies for delivering home care services during a period of change
methods for ensuring consumers are at the heart of systems and processes.
To listen enrol in the program, or search ‘Governing for Reform’ on your preferred streaming platform (Spotify, Google or Apple Podcasts).
Webinar: Trauma informed aged care for Forgotten Australians & Care Leavers
Helping Hand Aged Care is hosting a free webinar on trauma informed aged care for Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers. Aged care, health and allied health professionals are invited to attend.
When: Thursday 2 November 2023, 10:30 am to 11:30 am (AEDT)
During the webinar you will hear from an Aged Care Finder who specialises in supporting Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers, along with staff from the Department of Health and Aged Care, and the Helping Hand team.
Register for the webinar now.
Residential care
Star Ratings: provider preview temporarily paused
The current Star Ratings provider preview period is being temporarily paused.
An issue has been identified affecting some Quality Measures and Staffing ratings available for preview in the Government Provider Management System.
The Department is working as quickly as possible to rectify the issue and will re-establish the provider preview as soon as possible.
We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to address these issues and will let you know once the Star Ratings preview has been restored.
Please continue to contact the My Aged Care Service Provider and Assessor Helpline on
1800 836 799 for assistance.
New COVID-19 supplement support
From 1 January 2024, a new Aged Care Outbreak Management Supplement will provide support for another 12 months, replacing the current COVID-19 grants. The supplement will help all residential aged care providers manage outbreaks.
A surge workforce will also continue to assist aged care homes impacted by outbreaks and other emergency events.
The measure was announced on Monday 23 October 2023. Read the Minister's media release. It highlights the Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting the sector and safeguarding the wellbeing of residents.
A webinar that included information on the new supports took place on Monday. Visit our website to view the webinar recording and slides.
Care time reporting assessments have started
We have started care time reporting assessments for residential aged care services.
Care time reporting assessments check the accuracy of care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse (RN) information reported in the Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) and 24/7 RN report.
Reporting assessments help ensure services are meeting their care minutes and 24/7 RN requirements. They also encourage accurate reporting to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and to inform Star Ratings.
All providers will have a reporting assessment by 1 April 2025. The selection of services for reporting assessments may be targeted or random. Our intention is to provide advice to assist providers in providing accurate reporting.
For further information see Care time reporting assessments.
Survey open: COVID-19 vaccine uptake
We want to hear your views about COVID-19 vaccines for people living and working in aged care homes.
Our goal is to protect aged care home residents and staff from infectious diseases.
The data we collect helps us plan and support future vaccination activities.
Please take the time to complete a short survey. It should take less than five minutes.
Go to the survey now
For the latest advice on COVID-19 vaccination visit COVID-19 advice for older people and carers.
Webinar reminder: Quality improvement in residential aged care
A reminder for residential aged care providers to register for this week’s Quality improvement in residential aged care webinar.
When: Thursday 2 November 2023, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (AEDT).
The webinar will include examples of quality activities from across the sector and a live question and answer session. You can submit questions for the Q&A session on the webinar registration page.
Register for the webinar now.
A recording of the webinar will be shared on our website for those who can’t make it.
In-home care
Webinar: CHSP provider update
We are hosting a webinar for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers.
When: Thursday 16 November 2023, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (AEDT).
The webinar will give CHSP providers an update on:
2024-25 CHSP extension timing, process and parameters
current and future CHSP grant funding opportunities
Fair Work Commission CHSP Base Funding Grant opportunity for providers
CHSP Meals and Transport pilot projects
aged care reforms and what they mean for CHSP.
You will have the opportunity to submit questions before and during the webinar.
Register for the CHSP webinar now.
If you are unable to attend, a recording will be available afterwards on the Aged Care webinars page.
Webinar: Introduction to Screen Readers
Vision Australia is delivering training webinar, free for Commonwealth Home Support Program providers.
Your communication platforms must be accessible to all, including for people living with vision loss or blindness.
When: Wednesday 15 November 2023, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm (AEDT)
In the webinar Vision Australia will cover:
what is a screen reader and who uses them?
overview of the main screen readers available and advice on using them for testing
how to test websites and content using the NVDA and iOS Voiceover screen readers
the limitations and differences between the experience of a sighted person testing with a screen reader and a person who is blind using a screen reader.
Register for this webinar now. There are 20 spots available.
Prerequisite: Basic prior digital accessibility knowledge is required.
For more information contact DigitalAccessTraining@visionaustralia.org
Workforce
Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payments - Round 2
The second round of applications for the Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payments is expected to open soon.
To prepare, read a copy of the guidelines on GrantConnect.
Aged Care providers are responsible for applying on behalf of eligible Registered Nurses (RN).
RNs directly employed through an aged care provider for 6 or 12 months can receive up to $6000. For eligibility periods visit our website.
Additional payments are available to nurses who work in a rural or remote area, hold a relevant postgraduate qualification, or have leadership responsibilities.
Changes were made for Round 2:
an administrative payment of 5% will no longer be provided to applicants
RNs employed through agencies/brokers are no longer eligible
part-time workers’ payment will be calculated using a tiering system.
For more information, visit Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment.