Aged care news highlights from the week ending 11 November 2022, 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.

Fair Work Commission

 FWC announces interim work value decision

According to Community Care Review, the Fair Work Commission has announced its long-awaited aged care work value case ruling, awarding residential and home care workers a 15 per cent pay rise. However, the FWC said it was only an interim, stage one decision and that it only applied to direct care staff, such as nurses.

Aged care workers set to receive pay rise

According to Aged Care Insite, aged care workers are set to receive a 15 per cent interim pay rise after the Fair Work Commission ruled that existing pay did not "properly compensate" industry workers for their value. The decision, handed down by the Commission on Friday, applies to workers involved in direct care for people in nursing homes, but won't cover administrative staff or lifestyle workers.

‘We don’t exist’: non-care staff miss out on pay rise

According to Aged Care Insite, aged care support staff say they feel “insulted” after being excluded from the Fair Work Commission's interim decision to increase wages for direct workers in the sector. In a highly-anticipated ruling made on Friday, the commission ordered 15 per cent pay increases for over 180,000 aged care nurses, AINs, personal care staff and home care workers.

FWC decision a first step, but case unfinished say stakeholders

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, “Moving in the right direction, but more to do,” is the initial reaction from Health Services Union national president Gerard Hayes to the Fair Work Commission’s interim offer of a 15 per cent pay rise for nurses and personal care workers under aged care awards.

COVID-19 News

States brace for first COVID wave since axing of isolation rules

According to Aged Care Guide, states along the country’s east coast are bracing for another wave of COVID-19, Chief Health Officers say - the first since isolation rules and testing requirements were rolled back for the majority of the population.

New variants unlikely to lock down aged care: experts

According to Aged Care Insite, the appearance of two new sub variants of Omicron in Australia is unlikely to lead to renewed restrictions and lockdowns in aged care, two immunologist experts have said.

Other News

Second raft of reforms pass Senate

According to Community Care Review, the Albanese Government’s second piece of aged care legislation has passed through both houses of parliament. Following a successful passage through the House of Representatives on 1 September, the Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill passed the Senate last week.

Medicare levy a potential fix for sector financial woes

According to Aged Care Insite, a raised Medicare levy could help address mounting deficits facing aged care providers, industry experts have said. Quarterly StewartBrown reports continue to show the aged care sector is struggling, with 67 per cent of providers losing money.

Important update: Residential aged care quarterly review of fees

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, Services Australia’s quarterly review of residential fees was run on Friday 28 October 2022. This process is used to update care recipients’ fees to align with any changes in their financial circumstances and make corresponding adjustments to subsidy payments for providers.

Services Australia is in the process of sending care recipients and providers letters to advise if there are changes to fees or if a refund may be due. It is important to review these letters thoroughly as changes to fees will take effect from the date advised in the letter. Information on the Residential Care quarterly review is available on the Services Australia website.

Financial Report on the Australian Aged Care Sector 2020-21

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the new Financial Report on the Australian Aged Care Sector 2020-21 has been published on the department’s aged care research and reporting webpage.

The report uses information collected from providers through the Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR), including information such as care minutes. Key findings are also available in an easy-to-read infographic.

Webinar for workers: Code of Conduct for Aged Care

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, from 1 December 2022, a Code of Conduct for Aged Care (the Code) will be introduced to strengthen safeguards for older Australians receiving aged care services.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is hosting a webinar for aged care workers of approved providers at 2pm–3pm AEDT on Friday 11 November.

Questions for the panel can be submitted before and during the webinar. The webinar will be recorded and will be available on the Commission’s website. Register for the webinar or email agedcarereform@agedcarequality.gov.au for more details.

Webinar: Updates on AN-ACC, care minutes and 24/7 nursing

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, join the aged care funding reform webinar at 1pm‑2.30pm AEDT on Thursday 17 November to hear the latest updates on the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC), care minutes and 24/7 nursing.

You can submit questions before the event via registration or during the webinar. Register for the webinar.

Webinar: The Future of Aged Care – Leading the Transformation

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program will be hosting a webinar on the future of aged care at 12noon‑1pm AEDT on Thursday 17 November.

The webinar will explore why it is essential to maintain a future focus to actively contribute to transforming aged care in Australia. The panel will discuss how to confidently lead organisations in successfully implementing changes to meet new obligations.

Enrol in the free Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program to register to attend the webinar, listen to the podcasts, and explore other learning activities.

Reminder: Star Ratings webinar

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the launch of Star Ratings for residential aged care is approaching. Residential providers, find out what this will mean for you at the Star Ratings webinar, 1pm‑2pm AEDT on Friday 18 November.

Please register to attend if you haven’t already. Star Ratings resources will soon be available, including factsheets, FAQs and a detailed provider manual. Find out more about Star Ratings on the department’s website.

Quality and Safety Commission review: Public submissions now open

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, public submissions for the capability review of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission may be made from now until 2 December.

Visit the Consultation Hub to access the public submission process or find more information about the capability review on the department’s website.

Grant Forecast Opportunity: Improving respite care for people with dementia and their carers

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, information is now available on GrantConnect for a grant program that aims to improve respite care for people with dementia and their carers. Find more information on the GrantConnect website.

Information Sessions: Voluntary assisted dying in Queensland

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, voluntary assisted dying will be available to eligible Queenslanders from 1 January 2023. Queensland Health invites aged care workers and providers to an online information session. Two sessions will be held:

• For providers: Tuesday 15 November at 12noon AEST – register for the session
• For workers: Wednesday 16 November at 12noon AEST – register for the session

You can submit a question in advance by emailing vadimplementation@health.qld.gov.au. Find more information on the Queensland Health website.

What to say and what not to say: A new language guide for combatting ageism

According to Aged Care Guide, a new language guide has been released to the public covering what to say and what not to say when communicating and interacting with older Australians in a bid to combat ageism.

Legislation

Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Act 2022 (No. 47 of 2022) [CTH] – received assent 9.11.22; substantially commences 1 December 2022

The Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Act 2022 amends the Aged Care Act 1997 (Aged Care Act) to implement a series of urgent measures that will give older Australians the dignity and respect they deserve. These amendments are intended to enable meaningful, practical improvements to the delivery of aged care services and to provide greater oversight and understanding of what funds are being used for. These measures put the quality of care and safety of older Australians first.