This year, April is an even more critical month in the calendar as providers address key Industry reforms and, for many, especially those in the home care sector, the looming deadline of July 1st and the commencement of Support at Home.
It is also traditionally a month when management teams are busy working on service budgets and pricing for the new financial year.
As we know from our work with providers, helping them fine-tune costing and pricing methodology, review operational budgets, and prepare for program changes like Support at Home can be challenging.
The department has released new guidance on Support at Home Pricing and communication resources to help inform clients, their families, and other stakeholders about the changes and what this means for them.
This month's newsletter is again full of essential updates and key links.
In response to providers' requests for a centralised ‘Link Library' when we recently delivered the Department's ‘Aged Care Reform' workshops, we have also established our own ‘Link Library‘, which is freely available on our website here.
We hope you find this month's edition helpful. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you or your team require support.
Content Summary
Latest CDCS Videos & Blog Posts
To respond to the needs of those working in the industry, CDCS has a range of blog posts on our website and videos that are freely available on our YouTube channel.
You can use any of our YouTube videos for your staff training and feel free to embed the videos in any of your training resources.
Grandfathering HCP clients to the Support at Home program
When the Support at Home program commences there will be a large number of people on Home Care Packages who will transition across to the new program. These people will be ‘grandfathered’ into the new program, but what does that really mean?
Industry News
All Sector Updates
Budget 2025 – 26
The Department of Health and Aged Care has published a page containing information on priorities identified for funding aged care in the 2025 – 26 budget.
Complaints Handling checklist
The ACQSC has developed a checklist to help providers and their staff understand best practice for complaints handling. It highlights the activities and systems required to support the complaints handling process and the resources available.
Updated Sector Readiness Plan
The ACQSC updated the ‘Sector Readiness Plan’ early this month. This document includes links to new resources to assist providers and older people be ready for the reforms.
Sector Change Plan
The Department of Health has also released its Sector Change Plan which outlines the communication, engagement, guidance and training activities that the department, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, and Services Australia will deliver to support older people and the sector to transition to the new Act.
First Nations Resources
With the new Aged Care Act comes stronger rules and standards to better protect the rights of First Nations people. This includes having their identity and culture respected when receiving aged care.
To support First Nations providers, workers and older people receiving aged care, the ACQSC created new resources to help providers and workers understand their obligations when providing care to First Nations older people. These include:
- Workplace posters: specifically relating to Standard 1 (the individual) and Standard 6 (food and nutrition), and about First Nations peoples' rights when accessing aged care.
- Conversation guide: to support First Nations providers, workers, older people and advocates to have conversations about aged care.
Refer to the First Nations ToolKit for further links
Provider Registration preview
Providers need to be aware that the Department of Health and Aged Care will send out their registration preview in April.
- Your organisation will receive a PDF file with the preview from noreply@communications.health.gov.au
- The subject line will be: For review | A preview of your proposed registration information and registration categories
If the information is correct, you do not need to do anything. If the information is incorrect, you should update the information through existing channels by 5pm AEST on 1 June 2025.
National Registration Scheme for Personal Care Workers
The Department of Health is seeking feedback from older people, their family and carers, providers, workers and training organisations on the design and new training and skills requirements of a national registration scheme to support personal care workers employed in aged care. You can complete an online survey here.
Closing Date: Thursday 17 April 2025
Reports Due
QI Reporting Quarter 3 (Residential Care)
Quality indicator reporting for Quarter 3 (January to March) is open.
See here for information on the QI program and resources.
COVID Updates
See the department website for any updates.
Home Care Updates
Commonwealth Home Support Program – unregistered CHSP clients
The Department of Health and Aged Care has developed a fact sheet as guidance material for CHSP providers to support their unregistered and unassessed CHSP clients in the lead up to the new Aged Care Act 2024 (new Act) coming into effect on 1 July 2025.
Support at Home – Frequently asked questions
The Department of Health and Aged Care are maintaining a frequently asked questions document, this document is being compiled from questions fed in by providers via direct email to the Department, Peak bodies and from questions raised by attendees at recent Department funded workshops. This can be accessed on the Department’s website.
Support at Home pricing resources
Providers will continue to set their own prices for services for the first year of the Support at Home program. The Department of Health and Aged Care has developed a range of resources to provide guidance on setting prices and outline consumer protections.
Support at Home – Summary of indicative prices fact sheet
This fact sheet includes indicative price ranges for most Support at Home services. These indicative price ranges reflect what Home Care Package (HCP) providers have reported that they intend to charge when the Support at Home program commences from 1 July 2025.
Support at Home – Guidance for setting Support at Home prices – fact sheet
This fact sheet provides guidance for providers to consider when setting and publishing prices for the first year of the Support at Home program.
Support at Home – Consumer protections for Support at Home prices – fact sheet for providers
This fact sheet outlines guidance for providers on the consumer protections in place to ensure Support at Home prices are reasonable and transparent.
Support at Home Thin Market Grant opportunity
The Support at Home Thin Markets grant is open. It will help ensure the availability of Support at Home services in rural and remote Australia, and for people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. See the link under grant opportunities below.
Residential Care Updates
Quality Indicator Expansion starts
Residential aged care providers need to start collecting data for the new ‘recommended allied health services received’ quality indicator from 1 April 2025.
You must report Quarter 4 2024–25 data through the Government Provider Management System by 21 July 2025.
The Department has a range of templates to assist providers with QI reporting.
Department and Commission Newsletter Links
If you haven't subscribed for Department updates, you can do so by clicking here to subscribe.
If you’re not already signed up, we recommend clicking through and signing up for the Commission’s valuable newsletter.
CDCS Roundup for Busy People Newsletter
If you have others in your team who would benefit from our monthly aged care roundup for busy people – they can sign up here.
Industry Training, Webinars & Events
Webinar invitation: Provider Registration and Renewal in Practice.
This is a webinar for existing and prospective providers.
Date: Tuesday 15 April 2025
Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm AEST (1:30pm SA and NT, 12 noon WA)
Register here
Residential provider webinar: Higher everyday living fee and accommodation funding
This webinar is for aged care providers, families and carers. It will cover key reforms under the Aged Care Act 2024, focusing on the new Higher Everyday Living Fee and changes to residential aged care accommodation funding.
Date: Thursday 10 April
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm AEST (1:30pm SA and NT, 12 noon WA)
Register here
Previous webinars or training sessions
ALIS
The commission has developed a brochure that introduces the Commission’s online learning platform, Alis. It gives an overview of Alis content, its key benefits and details how providers and their staff can register for Alis.
ACQSC Resources for educators
The Commission has a range of customisable resources developed for educators when presenting the aged care workforce.
Provider Deeming
This short video explains the deeming process for providers for moving to the registration model.
Multipurpose Service Program (MPS) webinar
This webinar was run by the Department of Health and Aged Care to highlight the impacts of reforms on MPS’s.
Reform readiness for NATSIFAC providers – webinar video
This webinar was run by the Department of Health and Aged Care and focused on the changes that will impact NATSIFACP providers under the new Act.
Bringing the Strengthened Quality Standards to life
This webinar by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission focused on the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, looking at the similarities and differences between the current standards and incoming standards and how the audit process will work under the new model
Ongoing workshops provided by the ACQ&SC
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission develops a range of educational resources and workshops for aged care providers, in-home services and residential services that assist in understanding what compliance looks like.
You can find these courses listed on the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s website under the Education tab.
Funding Opportunities
Grant Reference
Name of Grant
Closing Date
Support at Home Thin Markets (rural, remote and specialised) 2025-26.
This grant opportunity provides 1 year of one-off funding in 2025-26, to HCP and STRC providers operating in identified thin markets (rural, remote or specialised), that is supplementary to fee-for-service revenue and can be used flexibly for appropriate business and service delivery expenses.
23rd April 2025
Aged Care Capital Assistance Program – Residential-based Aged Care Services and Staff Accommodation.
It is designed to support providers in thin markets, where escalating building costs coupled with the ongoing costs of aged care delivery, including recruitment and retention, may limit opportunities to undertake infrastructure projects to support the delivery of quality and safe residential care services.
20th May 2025
MRFF – DAACM – 2025 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Grant Opportunity.
The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) – 2025 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Grant Opportunity aims to support research that will help to improve quality of life for Australians as they age
20th August 2025
For more information on any of these grants, refer to the GrantConnect website.
SDAP – Services Development Assistance Panel
Don’t forget, if you are an aged care provider (residential or community care) operating in rural or remote locations, you may be eligible for support through the Service Development Assistance Panel (SDAP).
CDCS has been a panel member since the inception of this program in 2010 and has supported over 40 aged care services with compliance, business development, training and resource development.
Get an idea of what can be done with SDAP.
Further information is available on the Department’s website, including the application form, or by emailing sdap@health.gov.au.
Jobs in Aged Care
Position
Organisation & Location
Closing Date
Angurugu – East Arnhem Regional Council
Until filled
Gapuwiyak – East Arnhem Regional Council
Until filled
Milingimbi – East Arnhem Regional Council
Until filled
NOTE: If you have a position that you would like us to promote, please hit ‘reply’ to this email so we can include it in the next newsletter and/or post on our Facebook page: CDCS – Culturally Directed Care Solutions.
New In The TQP Members Resource Area
You’ll find a full list of the updated policies, procedures and other helpful resources that have been updated in the last month below. We're committed to helping your organisation meet compliance and deliver quality outcomes.
If you don't have access to the TQP and you’re looking for comprehensive, industry-specific policies, procedures and work instructions that have been used successfully by dozens of aged care providers, helping them to easily pass quality reviews and stay compliant, then take a look at the Total Quality Package.
Resource updates in the last month
Toolbox Talks - Quality Care
Commonwealth Home Support Program – updated
Governance Policies and Procedures
Clinical Governance Policy (Home Care) – updated
Environmental Sustainability – updated
Information and Records Management Policy – new
Management and Planning Tools
Home Care Management Report – updated
Risk Planning and Operations Guides
Outbreak Management Resources
Template – Outbreak Management Plan – Residential Care – updated
TQP Live Training & Replays
TQP Members get complimentary access to regular LIVE training and education sessions. These are aimed at the coordination and management level and address trending issues and topics. Recordings are available in the TQP to revisit whenever you need – just like having your very own ‘Aged Care Netflix!’ ????
We hope you have found this edition helpful; feel free to share it with others who may be interested. If you have any feedback or questions, please let us know by emailing us at info@cdcs.com.au.
Please get in contact with us if you need support and we’ll catch up with you again next month.
Donna, Carrie & the CDCS Team
- April 2025 - April 10, 2025
- March 2025 - March 15, 2025
- February 2025 - February 17, 2025
