Aged care news highlights from the fortnight ending 12 April 2024, aggregated by Ideagen.

The information in the ACE Wrap is aggregated from other news sources to provide you with news that is relevant to the aged care sector across Australia and worldwide. Each paragraph is a summary of the subject matter covered in the particular news article. The information does not necessarily reflect the views of Ideagen.

Residential Care and General Aged Care News

New Quality Standards will come into effect with new Aged Care Act: Department confirms

According to The Weekly Source, the Department of Health and Aged Care has confirmed that the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards will be rolled out at the same time as the new Aged Care Act.

Mixed response over Aged Care Act delay

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, consumer advocacy groups have strongly reiterated calls for the federal government to deliver the new Aged Care Act sooner rather than later after it announced Wednesday that it intends to “update the commencement date of the legislation,” which was due to take effect on 1 July. Recommended by the aged royal commission in its final report in 2021, the reforms could now be delayed by more than a year, with July 2025 predicted as the new implementation date.

Federal opposition calls for greater transparency over Aged Care Act delays

According to Hello Leaders, the Aged Care Act’s delayed introduction has drawn the ire of the Shadow Health and Aged Care Minister Anne Ruston who shared her thoughts with Sky News over the weekend.

2024 A Year of Reform: How new whistleblower rules will impact aged care

According to Aged Care Insite, the new Aged Care Act is set to introduce new and enhanced whistleblower rules, offering increased protections to workers and clearer guidelines and requirements for employers and their whistleblower policies. In its recent webinar, Ideagen detailed what the new whistleblower protections mean for aged care providers, highlighting the current rules, what's changing and how providers can prepare for the new rules.

Aged care AINs and PCWs secure 23 per cent pay rise

According to Aged Care Insite, an increase to award wages for Certificate III aged care workers has "finally" been secured. The Fair Work Commission ordered pay increases of 23 per cent for assistants in nursing (AINs) and personal care workers (PCWs) with a Certificate III qualification.

NSW may end its COVID vaccine mandate for health workers. That doesn’t mean it was a bad idea in the first place

According to Aged Care Insite, as New South Wales considers removing its COVID vaccine mandate for health-care workers, it’s pertinent to explore how to abolish a vaccine mandate in the right way.

Hearing Services Program – Compliance update April 2024

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, this compliance update includes information on the support available, lessons learned from during 2023–24. The focus for compliance in 2024 is listed below. Providers should review their processes to ensure they remain compliant.

Input requested to help improve aged care for First Nations people

According to Hello Leaders, the Government’s ongoing reform plan to strengthen support for First Nations people accessing aged care services is entering an important stage following the appointment of an Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner. And now, she is seeking feedback about the system and reforms to ensure positive changes continue to be introduced.

Training to provide inclusive palliative care

According to Community Care Review, care workers need to receive mandatory training to ensure that LGBTIQ+ people can access safe and inclusive palliative care, Community Care Review has been told.

Home Care News

Small surplus for home care providers

According to Community Care Review, a marginal financial uptick for the home care sector, says the latest industry data. Crunching statistics from 73,829 home care packages, StewartBrown’s Aged Care Financial Performance Survey Report for six months ended 31 December 2023 found that operating results increased slightly for the reporting period to a surplus of $2.69 per client per day, compared to $2.54 the previous year.

35% increase in people waiting for Home Care Packages - 40,000 new Packages needed in FY25

According to The Weekly Source, as of 31 December 2023, there were 51,044 older Australians waiting for a Home Care Package at their assessed level of need, a 35% increase - or 13,150 more people - than at the same time a year prior.

CHSP grants available to plug service gaps

According to Community Care Review, home care providers are invited to apply for a government growth funding grant to expand entry-level aged care services in Australia.

Legislation

No significant developments this week.