Under new governance requirements, residential and home care providers must submit an annual report on their operations. The first of these reports is due 31 October 2023. Here’s what you need to know.

What to Report

The report covers the period 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. In relation to this reporting period, residential and home care providers must provide the following information to the Department of Health and Aged Care:

• a statement signed by the governing body stating whether the provider did or did not comply with its duties under the aged care legislation and:
  • each duty the provider failed to comply with
  • whether the non-compliance affected one or more services
  • the reasons why the provider failed to comply
  • actions taken to rectify the non-compliance
  • resolution of the non-compliance
• the most common kinds of feedback and complaints received by each service
• key improvements made to the service quality
• diversity information including:
  • whether the providers’ governing body includes representatives from First Nations, disability, gender diverse and cultural and linguistically diverse communities (or any other diversity demographic)
  • initiatives to support a diverse and inclusive environment for care recipients and staff at each service
• the membership of governing body including:
  • whether the provider has a majority of independent non-executive members and a person with experience in providing clinical care on their governing body or
  • has exemption from this responsibility.

How to Report

Submit your report on operations via the Government Provider Management System (GPMS).

Deadline

The first annual report on operations is due by 31 October 2023.

What Am I Required to Report?

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the report on operations is one of several new governance requirements that were made in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and which are designed to “improve the quality and transparency of aged care services”.

According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the purpose of the report on operations requirement is to “encourage accountability and transparency”. The Commission also notes that “the information collected will become available on My Aged Care for each of the services your organisation provides. This will assist consumers and their representatives to make informed decisions about their care”.

More Information

• Department of Health and Aged Care: Strengthening Provider Governance in Aged Care
• Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission: Strengthening Provider Governance
• Department of Health and Aged Care: Government Provider Management System (GPMS)

For help with organising access to the GPMS, contact the My Aged Care Service Provider and Assessor Helpline on 1800 836 799 (8am 8pm Monday Friday and 10am 2pm Saturday, across Australia).