Last updated 21 April 2023
Following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (Royal Commission), the Australian Government has introduced a range of changes across the aged care system designed to improve the care of older Australians. Many changes are now in force.
Catholic Healthcare supports the aged care reform agenda.
Some key changes to date have included:
- A new Aged Care Code of Conduct.
- Increased requirements for the governing bodies of aged care providers.
- Publicly available ‘Star Ratings’ for aged care providers.
- Registered nurses in every aged care residential home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, unless an exemption applies.
- An increased say for residents, clients and representatives via Consumer Advisory Bodies and Quality Care Advisory Bodies
- Increased mandatory reporting by providers
- 200 care minutes per resident per day. In smaller homes, the number of care minutes is reduced.
Further changes are expected in the next 12-24 months, including 215 care minutes per resident per day from October 2024, strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, a new Aged Care Act and the replacement of home care packages and short-term restorative care program with the Support at Home program from 1 July 2025.
Catholic Healthcare continues to monitor the aged care reform agenda closely and is well prepared for the changes as and when they arise.
We are committed to the delivery of safe and quality care and services for all our residents and clients.
We look forward to working together with residents, clients, representatives and Government to build a stronger and more responsive aged care sector for the benefit of all older Australians.
For more information, read Changes to aged care in Australia.
Reform in Residential Aged Care
Reforms in progress - effective now
|
Reform measure |
What's being introduced |
What it means |
|
The new Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model |
The new funding model (AN-ACC) replaced the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) |
The new funding model provides a more equitable funding to providers that better matches consumer needs with the costs of delivering care. |
|
The new Star Ratings system |
Residential aged care services will have an overall star rating listed on My Aged Care |
This measure helps consumers and their carers compare services and decide which service best fits their needs. |
|
Code of Conduct |
An enforceable Code of Conduct for Aged Care applying to approved providers and their workforce |
The Code of Conduct strengthens protection for consumers including the ability to ban workers from the aged care sector. |
|
Strengthen governance of approved providers |
Legislative changes requiring providers to improve their governance arrangements and ultimately lift sector capability |
The new reporting responsibilities will help older Australians and their families to better understand how providers operate. |
|
Improve information sharing |
Legislative changes enable information sharing between aged care, veterans and disability sectors |
The changes increase age care consumer safety. |
|
Use of refundable deposits and accommodation bonds |
Legislative changes providing increased financial and prudential oversight on the use of residential accommodation deposits and bonds |
It is an offence for non-compliance with the changes. |
|
Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority |
Legislative changes to include pricing advice to the government on aged and general healthcare |
Independent advice will be provided to the government on healthcare pricing, costing and fees. |
|
Restrictive Practices |
Legislative change to revise restrictive practices arrangements. Place stronger controls over the use of restrictive practices, such as chemical and physical restraints, to ensure they are a last resort |
This amendment provides arrangements for consumers who may not have the ability to provide consent, or where there is no state or territory function which supports provision of consent on their behalf. |
New reform - effective from 1 July 2023
|
Aged care 24/7 registered nursing requirement |
A registered nurse onsite at every aged care facility 24/7 |
Provides aged care residents access to a registered nurse in every aged care facility on site, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Provide a sector average of 215 care minutes per resident per day. |
New reform - effective from 1 October 2023
|
Care minutes |
Care minutes refers to the care time that older Australians who live in government-funded residential aged care services, receive from:
|
The initial care minutes target is a sector-wide average of 200 minutes of care per resident per day. This includes 40 minutes from an RN. From 1 October 2024, the care minutes target will increase to a mandatory sector wide average of 215 minutes. This includes 44 minutes of RN time. |
How will the changes affect your care?
If you are currently receiving care, these changes will not affect the care received or your current residential aged care living arrangements.
If you aren’t assessed for an aged care home, there will be a change. Once you have been assessed as eligible and moved in, an independent assessor will attend the home to talk to you and employee. The results of this assessment will be used to provide you with an AN-ACC class (funding). This class will decide part of the funding your aged care home receives to meet your daily care needs.
The changes also mean you will get more care time from registered nurses, enrolled nurses and personal care workers. This is a part of the Government’s commitment to improving access to direct clinical care for people living in residential aged care.
Source:
Restoring dignity to aged care | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Aged care reforms – an overview fact sheet | Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Aged care reforms – a regulatory perspective fact sheet | Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Reform in In-Home Aged Care
The Australian Government has set the time frame of 1 July 2024 to deliver on the reforms and an improved in-home aged care program as put forward by the Royal Commission.
No one will lose any in-home aged care services they currently have in place through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) or the Home Care Packages (HCP) program.
Reforms in progress - effective now
|
Reform measure |
What's being introduced |
What it means |
|
Code of Conduct |
An enforceable Code of Conduct for Aged Care applying to approved providers and their workforce |
Strengthen protection for consumers including the ability to ban workers from the aged care sector. |
|
Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) |
SIRS extended to home care and flexible care delivered at home & community. It includes incident management and prevention responsibilities |
Gives greater protections to aged care consumers who receive care and service in their home. |
|
Strengthen governance of approved providers |
Legislative changes requiring providers to improve their governance arrangements and ultimately lift sector capability |
The new reporting responsibilities will help older Australians and their families to better understand how providers operate. |
|
Improve information sharing |
Legislative changes enable information sharing between aged care, veterans’ and disability sectors |
Increase age care consumer safety. |
From 1 January 2023 there will be set limits on what providers for care and package management can charge. In addition, providers will no longer be able to charge:
-
- exit charges
- additional costs for third-party goods or services
- package management charges in a month (except for the first month of care) where you do not receive services other than care management.
For details about the above changes, see the Home Care Packages Pricing Update fact sheet on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Upcoming events
For the first part of 2023, the Department of Health and Aged Care is running targeted sessions with a range of stakeholders to inform final advice to government.
Older Australians can get involved with the consultations. Enquiries on the reforms or upcoming consultations can be sent to sah.implementation@health.gov.au
Source:
Reforming in-home aged care | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
How we are improving Home Care Package charges | My Aged Care