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.

We will be uploading more blogs to our website and videos to our YouTube channel in the coming weeks and months but, in the meantime, why not revisit one of our most popular videos below. And don't forget, that 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.

Industry News

Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards guidance resources updated

If you are looking for a checklist on what to do to prepare for the implementation of the revised Quality Standards, the ACQSC released a ‘Provider Readiness Checklist‘ this month.

The ACQSC has been updating the guidance resources on the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and have:

• • simplified the language
  • emphasised the importance and applicability of Standard 1 across all standards
  • added more examples, including for:
    • Services providing care to people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups; and
    • Rural and remote services.

They’re also working on updating the guidance for workers and governing bodies, as well as adding further considerations for home care settings.

On this page you'll find information about:

• • Standards
  • Audit guidance resources
  • Guidance for workers
  • Fact sheets and poster
  • Video links
  • Webinar links
  • Training resource links

Quality Standards PowerPoint Training Package

You can download the Quality Standards PowerPoint Training Package add your organisation information, and use it for your team training.  It even comes with facilitator notes!

There are ‘conversation cards‘ you can use to engage your team with key concepts in each standard.

Digital guidance tool

Understanding which standards apply to your service can be confusing. The ACQSC has an online tool to help you find guidance tailored to your circumstances.

Choose your registration category to see the Standards that will apply to you and receive detailed guidance to support compliance with each outcome.

Update of Quality Standards Storyboards

Many organisations have used the original Quality Standards Storyboards that CDCS developed in collaboration with First Nations communities and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission; they have now been updated to help staff and older people understand topics represented in the strengthened Quality Standards.

The strengthened Quality Standards storyboards provide pictorial representations of what different topics from the standards look like in practice. They have been developed for a rural and remote context to assist older people, staff, and other people interacting with aged care services in understanding how the standards apply in a day-to-day context.

Sector Readiness Plan

The ACQSC have developed a sector readiness plan. This plan provides a summary of the timeline for the publication of resources.

Resources will include guidance materials, webinars, fact sheets, videos, training programs and more on topics including:

• strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards

• provider registration

• the Financial and Prudential Standards

• worker regulation

• compliance and enforcement

• complaints handling

Sector Performance Report – Quarter One July – September 2024

The Commission has released the quarter one sector performance report. These reports highlight issues and risks identified during quality audits. Providers can refer to this report to identify trends and potential areas of improvement in their sector.

Provider Governance Reviews

From January to April 2025, the ACQSC will carry out a targeted review on provider governance responsibilities.

Selected providers will need to submit documents that show how they meet their governance obligations.

Providers that:

• didn’t meet their prudential or governance obligations in the past
• or are at risk of not meeting their prudential or governance

will be targeted and providers will be notified from January to February 2025.

Summary of amendments to the new Aged Care Act

The Department has published a summary outlining the key amendments that relate to the new legislation.

Ongoing Consultation of the new Aged Care Act

There will be ongoing consultation on various aspects of the new Aged Care Act Rules over the next few months.

Currently the Government is seeking feedback on the funding arrangements for the new Aged Care Act. Providers and individuals have until Februray 28th to provide feedback.

December Quarterly Financial Report

Was due 14th February 2025

The QFR portal is open for providers to input quarter 2 data.

New Guidance material was published in January this year, including this new Outbreak Management Plan – key features resource.

You can use this document as a starting point to prepare your OMP and adapt it.

You can also find COVID information on  the department's website.

Support at Home Provider Transition Guide

Hot off the press this week is new guidance for existing HCP and STRC providers on actions to take to be operationally ready to transition to the Support at Home program.

The guide is divided into five key transition stages.

1. Understand the impact of the Support at Home program
2. Prepare for transition
3. Deliver services
4. Receive payments
5. Facilitate change in service

The department will update this guide as additional support tools and resources are released. It is recommended that providers check the department’s website regularly for further information.

The guide includes a list of transition resources and tools to assist you in completing recommended actions.

There are resources to support older people, their families and carers to better understand the changes and what this means for them.  There is a resource for older Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people too.

Support at Home IT Grant

This grant will provide Home Care Package and Commonwealth Home Support Programme providers with one-off funding of $10,000 (excl GST) towards upgrading IT systems in anticipation of Support at Home and the new Aged Care Act.
Closes 25 February – see Grants section in this newsletter for more information.

Support at Home Price Caps

On 17 December 2024, changes to Support at Home pricing arrangements were announced by the Australian Government.

Changes include the delayed introduction of price caps for Support at Home services until 1 July 2026. Providers will set their own prices from 1 July 2025 when Support at Home begins.

Providers will continue to make agreements with the older people they provide care to about any price changes from 1 July 2025, as is the case for the current Home Care Packages Program.

Home Care Pricing Survey

Home Care providers should have received an email last week on 12 February about the pricing caps proposed for 2026.
There is a spreadsheet that providers are asked to complete with current pricing info and a brief survey. Responses are due by 26 Feb. If you haven't seen the survey – contact SAH.Pricing.Survey@health.gov.au

Care Management Pooling

Although the introduction of price caps has been delayed, providers who provide care management services will need to take a pooled approach to care management fees which is based on 10% of ongoing Support at Home classification funding from 1 July 2025.

MPS – Reforms and reviews of the Multi-Purpose Services Program

The Department of Health & Aged Care is working with state and territory governments and Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) providers to manage the impact of aged care reforms, including trialling the 24/7 registered nurse and care minutes requirements in MPS.

More information for MPS services and reforms can be found here.

General MPS program information can be found here.

Increased maximum accommodation price to $750,000

From 1 January 2025, the government increased the maximum accommodation price from $550,000 to $750,000. This is the maximum price that can be charged for a room without needing special approval. The government will index this new threshold each year to the consumer price index from 1 July 2025.

Where relevant providers should understand which applicants this applies to and ensure they have clear information that can be provided to those who may be impacted by this change.

Changes to residential care places (Places to People)

The changes will start when the new Aged Care Act begins on 1 July 2025.

Places will be assigned directly to older people who access government-funded residential care services. This will give them more choice and control over which provider delivers their services.

Mainstream residential care providers will no longer need an allocation of places to deliver government-funded aged care services. You can find more information here.

(Voluntary) Monthly Statements

No decision as yet on when these will become mandatory. Currently, statements can be verbal or written. They will not be reviewed in audits until they become mandatory.

A Monthly Care Statement is a written statement that providers can give to residents and their representatives which summarises:

• • the care the resident accesses
  • changes to the resident’s health or care needs
  • other relevant events that occurred in the previous period

All residential aged care providers can choose to give monthly care statements to residents – this is voluntary.

For information on what to include in a monthly care statement and how to create a monthly care statement, refer to the Department’s website.

Pets in aged care settings

The new Aged Care Bill outlines the rights of an individual living in residential aged care to stay connected with their pets if they choose to do so.

There are a range of resources to help providers and residents with intake processes including risk assessments and considerations for accepting a companion animal into the home.

If you haven't subscribed for Department updates, you can do so by clicking here to subscribe. Subscribing to the ‘Your Aged Care Update' or YACU is essential for keeping up with the latest notifications.

If you’re not already signed up, we recommend clicking through and signing up for the Commission’s valuable newsletter.

** If you want a free resource book to educate yourself and train your team on the reforms > Click here **

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

Understanding the impact of Financial and Prudential Standards (Residential and Home Care providers)

The new Act gives the Commissioner the authority to set Financial and Prudential Standards (the F & P Standards).

Whilst many of the F&P Standards will be familiar to residential providers, home care providers will also need to meet the Standards.

The Commission’s public consultation on the draft new F & P Standards will start on Tuesday 18 February 2025. A webinar on the same day will walk providers through the new Standards and provide practical advice to help them prepare. You can register here.

Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – provider training presentation

To help providers educate their staff on the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards the ACQSC has created a short PPT presentation that can be modified to reflect your organisation. You can download the presentation here.

Strengthened Quality Standards videos

The Commission has released a series of short videos to help providers and their staff understand the strengthened Quality Standards. You’ll find links to these and other resources here.

Residential Care Fees and Means Testing

On February 11th,  the Department of Health and Aged Care discussed the upcoming changes to residential care fees under the new Aged Care Act in a webinar. The webinar covered changes to means testing.
It was aimed at aged care providers, older people, families and other representatives. Click here to get access to the webinar slides.

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

Closing Date

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

Closing Date

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.

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!’ ????