Your Aged Care Update # 38/24
In this issue
News about the reforms
Rules for the new Aged Care Act
Public consultation on the Rules for the new Aged Care Act is now underway.
We are currently seeking feedback on the service list. This outlines the care and services that will be available to older people under the new laws.
We will progressively release other Rules for consultation in stages over the coming months.
This feedback will:
help make clear how the Rules will impact older people and the care they receive
ensure the Rules accurately represent feedback from previous consultation
allow providers to tell us what they need to help prepare for the new Act.
You can provide feedback via our online form by 31 October.
Sector news
Quarterly Financial Report portal open
You can now submit your Quarterly Financial Report for Quarter 1 (1 July to 30 September) in the Government Provider Management System.
Reporting is due by 4 November.
Contact Forms Administration on (02) 4403 0640 if:
any sections of the report are missing or incomplete
you are blocked from submitting.
For technical support, please call the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799 and select option 5.
We recently held a webinar on improving the accuracy of financial reporting. Read the presentation and watch the recording.
Webinar: Digital Transformation Tech Talk
You are invited to join a webinar on our digital transformation work.
When: Wednesday 9 October, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm (AEDT).
Join us for the latest updates following recent aged care reform announcements. Hear about our digital transformation work with updates relating to aged care reform, including Support at Home, and an update from the Business to Government (B2G) project.
Register now.
We run regular Tech Talk webinars for the aged care sector and IT professionals on our digital transformation work.
Watch past Tech Talk webinars.
Residential care
Care minutes changes from 1 October
From today, mandatory care minutes have increased to a sector average of 215 minutes per resident per day. This includes 44 minutes of registered nurses (RN) care time.
Enrolled nurses (ENs) can now meet up to 10% of your RN care minutes target. This does not change nurses’ responsibilities in your service. There is also no change to how you complete your Quarterly Financial Report (QFR). You need to continue to report EN and RN hours in the relevant categories.
Only ‘direct’ care time from ENs, RNs and Personal Care Workers/Assistants in Nursing is able to be counted towards care minutes. Our Care time reporting assessments program will check the accuracy of this data.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission closely monitors your legislated obligation to meet your care minutes targets. See more information about care minutes performance.
We encourage you to help your workers better understand care minutes by making the care minute in residential aged care factsheet available to them.
Your AN-ACC and 24/7 RN supplement funding is also changing from 1 October. Read more about these changes at Funding higher wages in residential aged care.
Quality indicator reporting open
Quality indicator reporting for residential aged care services is open for Quarter 2 (October to December).
When you report quality indicator data, you need to use the file upload template in the Government Provider Management System (GPMS). If you are pasting information, use the ‘paste values’ function to keep the format.
You must not include residents’ personal information. If you do, this breaches:
your reporting obligations
residents’ privacy.
For help, see additional guidance on reporting via GPMS or refer to GPMS and Quality Indicator Program resources.
For technical support, please contact the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799 and select option 5.
Webinar: Psychiatry in residential aged care
Swinburne University’s Wellbeing Clinic is holding a webinar on the role of psychiatrists in residential aged care.
The webinar will discuss diagnoses and treatment of aged care residents including, people with dementia with behavioural and psychological symptoms.
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 4 October, 4:45 pm to 6:00 pm (AEST).
Register now.
For more information, see Swinburne University’s webinar schedule.
In-home care
Webinar: CHSP 2025–27 extension
We are hosting a webinar for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers.
When: Tuesday 22 October, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm (AEDT).
The webinar will provide an update on:
2025–27 grant extension process
changes to the design of CHSP under the new Aged Care Act
new reporting obligations
upcoming grant opportunities
new aged care regulatory model.
You will have the opportunity to submit questions during the webinar.
Register now.
If you are unable to attend, a recording will be available on our website.
Home Care Program excluded items review complete
A report on the Home Care Packages Program Assurance Review on excluded items is now available.
We reviewed:
if providers were spending funds on excluded items
if so, then how widespread this issue was
why this may have occurred.
The public summary report outlines the key learnings and outcomes.
We will hold a webinar in November to discuss the findings in the report. Registration details will soon be available on our website.
Workforce
Webinar: Working with a diverse workforce
The Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care NSW/ACT) is holding a free webinar for people working in aged care.
The webinar will help you build competence and reduce discrimination and racism in the workforce.
When: Monday 28 October, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm AEDT.
Register now.
Making services culturally inclusive is a requirement of the Aged Care Quality Standards.
For previous CALDWays webinars, watch the recordings.
Webinar recording: Delivering palliative care
We recently held a webinar on delivering high-quality, person-centered palliative care.
The webinar discussed palliative care programs and training opportunities that build skills and confidence in caring for people at the end of life.
Watch the webinar recording and read the answers to questions.
Webinar: Mental health in the workplace
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations is hosting a webinar for employers, including aged care providers on why mental health matters in the workplace.
When: Wednesday 9 October, 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm (AEDT).
Empower your workforce with wellbeing strategies that will support them to deliver care for older people in a sustainable way.
It will discuss how mental health is important for thriving and inclusive workplaces. You will also learn practical tips on creating a safe and positive workplace environment.
Register now.
For more information, email: Engagement@dewr.gov.au.