Aged care news highlights from the week ending 24 February 2023, 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.
COVID-19 News
No significant developments this week.
Other News
15 per cent pay rise for aged workers effective June 30
According to Inside Ageing, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has today awarded a 15% pay rise for aged care workers from June 30, 2023, bringing forward the 5% increase that was due to commence from July 2024. The government has committed to funding 10% of the pay rise from July 2023 and an additional 5% from July 2024. However, the FWC’s decision to implement the pay rise in one go has put additional pressure on the already struggling sector.
See also Aged Care Insite: FWC rules 15 pay rise for lifestyle staff and chefs.
ACWIC welcomes pay rise for more aged care workers
According to a recent ACWIC media release, the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council (ACWIC) has welcomed the decision of the Fair Work Commission to include head chefs and recreational activities officers, along with direct care workers, in a 15% interim wage increase for aged care workers to commence from 30 June 2023.
Govt may raise taxes to pay for aged care reform
According to Aged Care Insite, Prime minister Anthony Albanese has said increased spending on aged care would mean 'some sacrifices need to be made', avoiding the question of whether Labor is planning to raise taxes. The risk of a tax increase became even more likely after yesterday's Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruling that recreational and personal care staff would receive a 15 per cent wage increase.
ACCPA puts co-contributions at top of government wish list
According to The Weekly Source, in a pre-budget submission, the peak body for aged care providers, Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) has told the Federal Government it is “crucial” that funding of the aged care system is addressed. It is also calling on the government to fund accommodation for aged care workers in rural and remote areas.
‘Lost our focus’: increased regulation distracting sector, expert says
According to Aged Care Insite, the ramping up of regulation in aged care over the past two years has led to providers and staff losing autonomy in their roles, an employment relations professor has said. In July last year, aged care minister Anika Wells announced the sector's reforms, including a new Code of Conduct for staff and providers. Wells received national criticism earlier this month after 'secretly' changing home care package manual rules. Yet, employment relations senior lecturer Dr Matthew Xerri from Griffith University said that constantly increasing the number of rules is taking away the ability of organisations and workers to provide quality care.
Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment closing soon
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment is available to registered nurses who have worked with the same aged care provider over one of the following eligibility periods:
- 1 November 2021 – 31 October 2022
- 1 May 2022 – 31 October 2022.
Up to $6,000 is available for full-time registered nurses with payments also available on a pro-rata basis for eligible part-time nurses. Aged care providers are encouraged to apply now for the Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment through a non-competitive grant process on Grant Connect as applications will close on Tuesday 28 February. There will be no provision for extension past this date.
Webinar: Digital Transformation Tech Talk
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the department’s Digital Transformation agenda is working to create a better-connected aged care network, that is consolidated, sustainable, automated, and modern. Join us for the first Digital Transformation Tech Talk webinar for 2023 on Thursday 2 March at 2pm-3.30pm AEDT. Register for the Digital Transformation Tech Talk webinar.
Webinar to launch Residents’ Experience Surveys
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the 2023 Residents’ Experience Surveys (formerly Consumer Experience Interviews) are underway. To help residential aged care providers prepare, the department is hosting a webinar on Thursday 9 March at 2pm-3pm AEDT. We appreciate your support of this initiative. Register for the webinar and submit your questions. Find out more about the survey process on the consortium’s website or visit the department’s Residents’ Experience Surveys webpage.
Webinar: Introduction to counselling approaches in residential aged care
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, join Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for their upcoming webinar on ageing on Friday 3 March at 4.45pm‑6pm AEDT. This webinar is for people employed in aged care, as well as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and volunteers who work with older adults. Find out more information and register for the webinar.
Unsafe staffing ratios pushes UK and Australian nurses ‘into a corner’
According to Aged Care Insite, British nurses are staging a 48-hour strike and 'won't back down' in a bitter row with the government over wages and nurse-to-patient ratios. Members of the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) have walked off their jobs six times since December 2022 to push for a pay rise of 19 per cent to meet the rising living costs. Since the start of 2022, Australian and British nurses have been calling for safer nurse-to-patient ratios amid a rapidly growing workforce shortage. The Australian NSW Nursing and Midwifery Association (NSWNMA) led four state-wide strikes last year which prompted talks with the government to address the workforce crisis.
Dementia main cause of disease burden for older Australians
According to Aged Care Insite, dementia has overtaken coronary heart disease as the leading cause of disease burden, injury and premature death among Australians aged 65 and older. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released its updated Dementia in Australia report today, which estimated people collectively lost nearly 230,000 years of healthy life to dementia in 2020.
New resident surveys explained
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, registrations are open for an interactive webinar to assist residential aged care providers with the upcoming rollout of Residents’ Experience Surveys. Commissioned by the Australian Government, the surveys gather feedback from aged care residents about their experiences of care, culture, food, and management in the home they live in. The Residents’ Experience Surveys – which replace the Consumer Experience Interviews from March – contribute 33 per cent to an aged care home’s overall star ratings score under the new system launched in December.
Funding tops budget priorities
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, sustainable funding of the aged care sector requires “immediate attention” in the 2023 federal budget, says the provider peak. It is “crucial the budget address funding” to support a sustainable aged care sector, Aged & Community Care Providers Association said in its pre-budget submission to Treasury.
Home Care News
Concerns raised over new home care package rules
According to Aged Care Insite, the federal government has rejected accusations it limited access to medication and walking assistance in its updated Home Care Package manual. On Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph reported that the government's new guidelines, which were issued on January 13, had slashed home care support for up to 215,000 recipients nationwide.
Budget needs cash boost for home care, say providers
According to Community Care Review, home care providers are calling on the Albanese Government to inject $800 million into the Home Care Packages program. The Aged & Community Care Providers Association has asked the government for the cash boost in its pre-budget submission to clear the waiting list for 2023-24 ahead of the replacement scheme’s commencement in July 2024.
Take a deep dive into the home care reforms
According to Community Care Review, focus on delivering the most effective and efficient operating model you can and understanding what changes are coming. That’s the advice industry leaders have for home care providers as they continue their preparations for the next wave of reforms coming their way. Key changes include a new and streamlined in-home care program commencing July 2024 along with a new Aged Care Act and regulatory model to support both.
Home care workforce support program webinars
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the department invites Home Care Providers to a webinar offering insights into growing the size of the personal care workforce and addressing workforce needs. Webinars have been scheduled for the following regions and dates. Click on the relevant link to register and learn more about your preferred webinar:
Providers can also submit questions before the webinar through the registration link, or by emailing them to ffbconsultation@health.gov.au
Legislation
Advance Care Directives (Review) Amendment Bill 2022 (No. 34 of 2022) [SA] – passed 21 Feb 2023
This bill seeks to amend the Advance Care Directives Act to improve the functioning of the advance care directive legislation in South Australia.
.png)
