Major Aged Care Reforms in 2024: What to expect
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Weekly Wrap 10 September 2021

14/09/21
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Aged care news highlights from the week ending 10 September 2021, aggregated by CompliSpace.

The information in the Weekly 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 CompliSpace.


Coronavirus/COVID-19 News

 

Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations for Residential Aged Care Workers

Vaccinations are not mandatory until the state/territory enacts a public health order to that effect. The status of the orders in the states/territories as at 10 September 2021, is as follows:

 

State/Territory

Are COVID-19 Vaccinations Mandatory?

ACT

From 17 September 2021, residential care workers may not work at a residential aged care facility unless they have had at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

NSW

From 17 September 2021, residential care workers may not work at a residential aged care facility unless they have had at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

From 6 September 2021, residential care workers who work in an area of concern may not work at the residential aged care facility unless they have had at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

NT

From 17 September 2021, residential care workers may not work at a residential aged care facility unless they have had at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

QLD

From 17 September 2021, residential care workers may not work at a residential aged care facility unless they have had at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

SA

From 17 September 2021, residential care workers may not work at a residential aged care facility unless they have had at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

TAS

From 17 September 2021, residential care workers may not work at a residential aged care facility unless they have had at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

VIC

From 17 September 2021, residential care workers may not work at a residential aged care facility unless they have had at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

WA

From 17 September 2021, residential care workers may not work at a residential aged care facility unless they have had at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

There are exemptions and complications within all the rules. For more information see Department of Health: Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in residential aged care.

 

What you need to know

All residential aged care workers should provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination, or authorised exemption to a vaccination, to their employer before 17 September 2021.

Residential aged care providers should keep a record of workers’ vaccination status, in line with the direction set out in the state or territory public health order.

Residential aged care providers are required to report on the number of workers with an authorised exemption as part of their weekly workforce COVID-19 vaccination reporting via the My Aged Care provider portal.

 

What you need to do

All providers and workers are encouraged to review their state or territory public health order to understand the scope of mandatory vaccination and limited exemptions that may apply.

All providers should now be confirming with their workforce whether they have received their minimum first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

All workers should now be providing evidence to their employer of their vaccination status.

 

What providers need to see

Workers should provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination status, or of an authorised exemption to vaccination, to their employer before 17 September.

There are two ways workers can provide evidence of their vaccination status:

  • Immunisation History Statement – this displays all vaccinations or medical contraindications and authorised exemptions, including COVID-19, that have been reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). All vaccine providers must upload vaccinations to the AIR.
  • COVID-19 Digital Certificate – this is for individuals who have received all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in Australia.

People can access their Immunisation History Statement:

  • online, by setting up a myGov account and then accessing a Medicare online account; or
  • through the Express Plus Medicare mobile app; or
  • by calling the Australian Immunisation Register enquiries line on 1800 653 809 (8am-5pm, Monday to Friday AEST) and asking them to send a copy of the statement. Please allow up to 14 days to receive the statement in the post; or
  • by asking a GP or vaccination provider to print a copy of your statement for you.

People do not need to have a Medicare card to be able to access their Immunisation History Statement.

A fact sheet is available for all residential aged care workers on how to prove their COVID-19 vaccination status, including step-by-step guides on how to create a myGov account.

 

If a worker’s vaccination status is not appearing on their Immunisation History Statement

If your workforce was vaccinated on site by a Commonwealth vaccine provider, and a worker’s vaccination status is not yet appearing on their Immunisation History Statement, please contact with the vaccine provider.

You will need to provide the individual’s full name, Medicare number and date of vaccination at your facility. The contacts are:

If a worker was vaccinated at an alternate site, such as a GP or state and territory-run clinic, providers should help their workers contact the vaccine provider and request the vaccination record be uploaded to their Immunisation History Statement.

If a worker cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine because the worker has a medical contraindication to the COVID-19 vaccine, and this is not appearing on their Immunisation History Statement, the provider may wish to seek other forms of evidence from the worker, such as a medical certificate.

 

If a worker is vaccinated but can’t provide their Immunisation History Statement by 17 September

Providers should record the worker as being vaccinated but is responsible for following up to ensure the worker provides the required proof of vaccination.

If a worker is unable to get a copy of their Immunisation History Statement prior to 17 September, they should:

  • advise their employer where and when they received their first dose
    COVID-19 vaccination, and
  • provide alternate evidence such as proof of their vaccination appointment or a signed declaration that they have received a minimum first dose.

Workers should then provide a copy of their Immunisation History Statement or show their COVID-19 Digital Certificate as soon as possible.

 

Resources to share with your workers

 

Resources for you

 

Victoria public health order on mandatory COVID19 vaccination released

According to the Department of Health, Victoria has released its public health direction on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of residential aged care workers. The direction makes provision for the introduction of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of workers in residential aged care in order to limit the spread of COVID19.

The direction officially came into effect at 11:59pm on 7 September 2021 and is aligned with Victoria’s State of Emergency declaration.

You can view Victoria’s public health order, and all other jurisdiction public health orders on the Department’s website - Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in residential aged care.

All Victorian residential aged care facilities are strongly encouraged to advise your workforce of the Victorian public health order.

 

Proof of vaccination from workers

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, from 17 September 2021, it is a condition of employment for residential aged care workers to have received at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

This is required under your state or territory public health order on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in residential aged care.

You must provide evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination status to your employer before 17 September 2021. Your employer should also keep a record of your vaccination status, in line with the direction set out in the relevant state or territory public health order.

 

What evidence can you provide?
There are two options for you to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination in Australia:

  • A COVID-19 Digital Certificate, for individuals who have received all required doses of a vaccine as approved for use in Australia.
  • An Immunisation History Statement, which displays all vaccinations or medical contraindications and authorised exemptions, including COVID-19, that have been reported to the Australian Immunisation Register.

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a national immunisation register which records vaccines given to all people in Australia. This includes COVID-19 vaccines, vaccines given under the National Immunisation Program, and privately, such as for seasonal influenza or travel.

 

How can you access your Immunisation History Statement?
You can access your Immunisation History Statement:

  • online, by setting up your own myGov account and then accessing your Medicare online account; or
  • through the Express Plus Medicare mobile app; or
  • by calling the Australian Immunisation Register enquiries line on 1800 653 809 (8am-5pm Monday to Friday AEST) and asking them to send your statement to you. Please allow up to 14 days to receive your statement in the post; or
  • by asking your doctor or vaccination provider to print a copy of your statement for you.

The How residential aged care workers can prove your COVID-19 vaccination status to your employer fact sheet provides information about the evidence required to provide to employers as proof of COVID-19 vaccination and has been provided to all residential aged care facilities to distribute to their workforce.

 

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination webinars now online

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, a series of live webinars on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for residential aged care workers have taken place over the last two weeks. The webinar recordings for NSW, QLD, SA and TAS are now available online.

The NSW, QLD, TAS and SA webinars can be found on the Department of Health website:

Webinars for the ACT and NT, which took place on Friday 3 September, will be available soon.

Victoria’s live event will take place this Friday 10 September from 2.00pm – 3.00pm AEST. The details to join the webinar are provided below.

When:  Friday 10 September 2021

Time: The webinar will start promptly at 2:00pm AEST

Join from the event link
https://health-au.webex.com/health-au/j.php?MTID=mbb61f175bc52db55cd9828c6f2369cc8

If required:
Event number: 2652 338 1988
Event password: pxGW83WP77h (79498397 from phones)

02 9338 2221 (Toll free)
If required: Access code: 265 233 81988.

 

10 per cent of staff still unvaccinated

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, more than one in 10 residential aged care workers remain unvaccinated a week before the COVID-19 vaccine becomes mandatory, according to the latest government figures. As of 9 September, 89 per cent of reported aged care workers have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, a spokesperson from the Department of Health told Australian Ageing Agenda.

 

 

Other News

 

Aged Care Workforce Census Report released

According to the Department of Health, the 2020 Aged Care Workforce Census Report is now available. Released every four years, the report presents findings about the aged care workforce in Australia from an online questionnaire with providers of residential aged care, the Home Care Packages Program and the Commonwealth Home Care Programme in late 2020.

The report provides a benchmark for the Government and the sector on the size and growth of the aged care workforce, as well as the attributes and skills central to the delivery of quality aged care.

 

Key findings include:

  • 32 per cent increase in direct care workers in residential aged care facilities
  • 80 per cent of residential aged care facilities report having a registered nurse on duty overnight
  • 66 per cent of personal care workers in residential aged care facilities hold a Certificate III or higher in a relevant direct care field
  • a workforce which continues to get younger, with half of the residential aged care workforce aged under 40.

For other stories on this issue see:

 

Fair Work Commission decision on 25% pay raise for aged care workers won’t be made until July 2022

According to The Weekly Source, a decision on the landmark aged care work value case put forward by the unions won’t be made for at least another 10 months with the final hearing on the case scheduled for July 2022. As we reported here, the Health Services Union (HSU) launched the original case for a 25% wage increase for residential care workers in November last year. The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (ANMF) then joined the push which was expanded to include home care workers.

 

Have your say: Guiding principles for medication management

According to the Department of Health:

Are you involved in medication management? We are updating two national quality use of medicines (QUM) publications and we would appreciate your input.

The Department of Health has engaged the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to review the two QUM publications relating to the National Medicines Policy:

The guiding principles support aged care facilities, clinicians and people taking medicines, and are focused on person-centred care. Please review the updated publications and submit your feedback by 27 September 2021 by visiting the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website. Your input will inform the revision of the publications before they are finalised and published in 2022. For more information, email medsafety@safetyandquality.gov.au

 

Updated delirium care standard encourages the early recognition of people who are most at risk

According to Aged Care Insite, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care launched the Delirium Clinical Care Standard (2021) at the 2021 Australasian Delirium Conference, aimed at preventing a condition which currently affects one in four medical patients.

 

 

Legislation

 

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Vaccination Information) Principles 2021 [CTH] – commenced 6 September 2021

This instrument updates reporting and record keeping requirements for approved residential aged care service providers relating to COVID -19 vaccinations. It also allows for the sharing of information with relevant state and territory health authorities and the public release of that information.

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About the Author

ACE Editorial Team

ACE is published by Ideagen. CompliSpace is Ideagen’s SaaS-enabled solution that helps organisations in highly-regulated industries to meet their governance, risk, compliance and policy management obligations.

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