Your Aged Care Update # 41
News about the reforms
Aged care reform survey closing soon
There is still time to take part in the aged care reform survey.
We want to know about your experience with implementing aged care reforms. Your feedback helps us provide better support so you can successfully plan and roll out changes to aged care.
Are you getting the information you need to plan and prepare for the reforms? What’s not working? How are the reforms impacting you?
Take the survey now - it should take around 10 minutes to complete.
Survey findings help us assess awareness of upcoming changes and plan what resources we need to provide.
Please share the aged care reform sector survey link with your colleagues and networks.
The survey closes on 31 October.
Webinar: Digital Transformation Tech Talk
Our Aged Care Digital Transformation program creates a better-connected aged care network that is consolidated, sustainable, automated, and modern.
You're invited to join the conversation via the Digital Transformation Tech Talk webinar series.
When: Wednesday 1 November, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm (AEDT)
Get the latest updates on the Digital Transformation Roadmap along with an overview of our current releases. You'll hear about the draft Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy, Business-to Government (B2G) conformance and the new Aged Care Act that puts the rights and needs of older people at its centre.
Ask us your questions about these topics and more in our Q&A.
Register now
Professional learning events: Governing for Reform in Aged Care
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is offering a series of free online learning events through the Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program.
The workshops and webinars aim to assist best practice in aged care governance and the provision of high-quality care.
Upcoming events:
Workshop: Unleashing the power of consumer co-design (2 November)
Webinar: Making bold decisions for a successful future (8 November)
Workshop: What story is the data telling us about the quality of care our consumers receive? (14 November)
Workshop: Navigating director onboarding (30 November)
Workshop: The key to trust building (5 December)
Sector News
Briefing session: High risk weather and how to prepare
Join a briefing session on how to prepare for the high-risk weather expected this summer.
The National Emergency Management Agency is chairing the briefing and it is being hosted by The National Coordination Mechanism.
When: Monday 31 October, 10:00 am to 11:00 am (AEDT)
The session will include:
the seasonal climate outlook
information on what support is available and how to prepare
a sector update from the Department of Health and Aged Care
an opportunity for Q&A.
Aged care fees review: System temporarily offline
Services Australia is running a review on Home Care and Residential Care fees.
The period reviewed will be from 20 September to 23 October 2023.
Fees will be set from 24 October 2024 and refunds will be calculated at the end of the last paid subsidy claim.
Due to the review, Aged Care Management Payment System (ACMPS) and Aged Care Staff Portal (ACSP) will have read only access from 3 pm on 24 October until 9 am on 25 October 2023 (AEDT).
This means you can provide information to enquiries from your care recipients. However, you will not be able to complete service claims and care recipient events (leave, oxygen, enteral feeding etc.).
You can also lodge your service claims but will not be able to lodge care recipient events in the Aged Care Provider Portal (ACPP).
For more information visit Review of aged care fees on the Services Australia website.
Residential care
New resources on palliative care entry
The process for palliative care entry to residential aged care recently changed.
Resources are available to support you in following the new process, including the:
guide for palliative care entry into aged care homes
updated AN-ACC funding guide
AN-ACC assessment pathways fact sheet.
To make sure you are complying with the new process you can also visit our Entering residential aged care for palliative care webpage.
Design competition: Reimagining Where We Live
We are running a design ideas competition to reimagine the future design of aged care homes in Australia.
The competition challenges architects and design professionals to use the draft National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines to showcase great design ideas.
Entrants are invited to demonstrate innovative concepts for aged care homes that are welcoming, safe, accessible dementia-friendly and consider small-home models.
Find out more about the reimagining where we live aged care design ideas competition, including why we are running it and who can enter.
The competition closes on 15 December 2023.
Reminder: Specialist Dementia Care Program: targeted competitive grant opportunity closing soon
The targeted competitive grant opportunity for the Specialist Dementia Care Program is closing soon. Eligible aged care providers in the following Primary Health Network regions are encouraged to apply.
New South Wales
Central and Eastern Sydney (South Eastern Sydney Local Health District region)
Murrumbidgee (Wagga Wagga region)
Western Sydney
Western NSW (Orange region)
Queensland
Brisbane South
Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast (Sunshine Coast region)
Darling Downs and West Moreton
Victoria
Gippsland (Traralgon or Bairnsdale region)
Murray (Bendigo region)
Western Australia
Country WA (Albany or Bunbury region)
Applications close Monday 6 November 2023, 2 pm (AEDT)
Grant information, including eligibility requirements is on GrantConnect (GO5304).
In-home care
Fair Work Commission Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Base Funding Grant is now open
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Base Funding grant opportunity is now open.
The grant will help CHSP providers meet the increase to award wages and related on-costs for some aged care workers from 30 June 2023.
To apply, CHSP providers must have a 2023-24 grant agreement and employ staff or subcontractors under the following awards:
Aged Care Award 2010
Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry (SCHADS) Award 2010 (Schedule E)
Nurses Award 2020
Apply online via GrantConnect before 2 pm (AEDT) 30 November 2023.
For more information, read our provider fact sheet and grant opportunity guidelines.
Home Care Package (HCP) providers: refer your care recipients to Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme
The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme is a free service that coordinates one-on-one visits from volunteers to socially isolated older people.
Home Care Package (HCP) recipients, including those on the National Priority System are eligible for the service.
Matched volunteers make at least 20 visits per year to an older person. Depending on interests and abilities, this time can be spent in many ways, such as:
chatting over a coffee
working on a hobby together
an outing to the neighbourhood library, café or park.
Social inclusion keeps people happy and healthy and is an important part of aged care programs.
Request a volunteer visitor for your HCP recipient.
New online application for the Continence Aids Payment Scheme
Eligible people can now apply online for the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS).
CAPS helps people from age 5 who experience permanent and severe incontinence to cover some of the costs of continence products.
The new online application is available through myGov or in the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. If someone else is applying on a person’s behalf, their representative must use the paper form, which can be download or ordered from our website.
If you have a client who may be eligible, let them know about the scheme and encourage them to apply online.
Learn more about CAPS and the new online application on Services Australia's website.