Newsletter January/February 2026

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.

Senate Enquiry into the Transition of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) to Support at Home

105 submissions were made by providers, peak groups, State and Territory governments, individuals, and the Department of Health, Ageing and Disability.
The dominant messages included:

• Sector scepticism about whether SaH, in its current design, could retain CHSP’s preventive and entry-level care model.
• High concern about implementation risk, including workforce readiness, assessment capacity, and financial impacts on older Australians.
• Urgent calls for clearer transition timelines, better data transparency and strengthened safeguards – including preserving CHSP’s core features where necessary.
• Equity and access risks for regional, remote, First Nations, multicultural and other vulnerable cohorts if supports aren’t tailored.

The government's proposed timeline of CHSP transitioning to Support at Home no earlier than July 2027 now seems in doubt, as the impact on more than 830,000 older Australians and over 1200 providers requires urgent review. The release of the Senate Committee report in April will be pivotal. You can access information on the submissions made here.

Aged care worker screening material

The Department has released new guidance material on aged care worker screening. This guidance material aims to help registered providers delivering funded aged care services to understand and comply with the worker screening requirements introduced by the Aged Care Act 2024 and the Aged Care Rules 2025.

The material includes information on the screening requirements for both staff who are engaged directly and those through an associated provider. It also includes a template providers can use to record relevant information.

(New) Associated provider FAQ

The Department has released a new FAQ document on associated providers aimed at helping providers understand when a worker is considered an associated provider or an aged care worker under legislation and the requirements for managing associated provider relationships including the provision of training and managing associated provider arrangements where a person is self-managing their Support at Home funding.

Associated providers under the Aged Care Act 2024 – Webinar recording

This webinar will provide information on what it means to be an associated provider under the Act.

Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) – Care recipient referral form

Use this form to provide a person's details, including any preferences, to help match them to a suitable volunteer visitor. You can complete this as an aged care service provider, a volunteer visitor coordinator, a person who wants to be visited, or their representative.

Provider Fee Waiver Guidance

Some providers are eligible to pay a reduced fee or no fee at all. These fee reductions are called fee waivers.

This guidance explains how to apply for a fee waiver when you’re submitting a registration or variation of registration application (including audit).

If you’re renewing your registration, the Commission will let you know if you’re eligible for a fee waiver.

Provider registration and change in circumstances checklist

Should you wish to change your registration or need to notify the Commission of a change in circumstances, this checklist will help you understand the steps you need to take when completing an application.

Updated Remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care SDAP Application Form

The Remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Service Development Assistance Panel (SDAP) provides professional support to aged care providers located in remote areas or providing care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Use this link to get more information and the updated application form.

To see examples of how providers have benefited from an SDAP, click here.

Becoming a provider of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program

This fact sheet explains what new and existing aged care providers need to know about the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (Note: the Department does not currently have a planned NATSIFACP funding round).

This document also explains how current NATSIFACP providers can become approved to deliver Support at Home services.

CHSP providers seeking to deliver Support at Home services

Guidance is available for CHSP providers who would like to deliver Support at Home services, including:

• the required registration categories
• how to set up online services
• resources, such as a step by step guide to becoming a Support at Home provider.

Learn more about provider responsibilities.

CHSP Exceptional Circumstances (EC) Pathway

The EC pathway has been developed for current unassessed CHSP clients who may not be able to complete an aged care needs assessment through the normal assessment pathway due to exceptional circumstances, e.g. people in remote areas. Note that unassessed clients in this category are ONLY those who were receiving CHSP services prior to 1 November 2025.

• Information can be accessed via this fact sheet.
• Applications must be submitted in the format provided by the department in this spreadsheet.
• All information must be included in line with instructions in the ‘user guide’ tab and the information collection notice, otherwise the application may be rejected.

Submit applications to: CHSPECsupport@health.gov.au

Support at Home service agreements deadline for finalising agreements

The 90-day period to finalise service agreements is soon approaching for many Support at Home participants.

You must work with participants to complete all outstanding service agreements as soon as possible to:

• ensure they continue receiving care
• maintain compliance with your provider registration conditions.

Access resources to help you develop and finalise service agreements.

Support at Home classifications and funding fact sheet for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Support at Home helps older people live at home for longer. This fact sheet provides information about the Support at Home classifications and funding for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and carers.

Support at Home special payments provider guidance & application form

If you have been experiencing difficulty claiming due to exceptional circumstances such as an emergency situation, natural disaster or critical systems failure you may be able to submit a request for a special payment.

The Department has published a document providing guidance for Support at Home providers on special payments in exceptional circumstances and an application form template.

Support at Home pricing compliance

For providers who have not yet verified your services or updated your pricing information, you must act now. It is a requirement of the Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025.

To meet your obligations, you must use the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal to:

• check all active service items for each outlet
• verify your services, if you do not offer a service, mark it as ‘Offline’
• ensure pricing is current and includes standard business-hours rates
• check your service delivery area is accurate
• confirm outlet names and descriptions.

Support at Home pricing requirements

The Support at Home program introduces new protections to make sure prices are reasonable and transparent.

This bulletin explains what providers need to do to meet the new pricing requirements and what actions the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission can take if they do not.

Support at Home program – End-of-Life Pathway

This fact sheet provides an overview of the End-of-Life Pathway, part of the Support at Home program.

Support at Home program – Restorative Care Pathway

This fact sheet provides an overview of the Restorative Care Pathway and how it can be used for short-term restorative care.

Support at Home program assurance plan 2025–27

The Department has released a plan that will guide the Support at Home program assurance activities to be conducted over the next 18-24 months. This document provides a high level outline of activities that the Department will be undertaking.

Transition Care Program Guidelines

These guidelines provide general information about the Transition Care Program (TCP). The guidelines were updated in January and now align with the Aged Care Act 2024 (the Act) and the Aged Care Rules 2025 (the Rules).

2026 Residents’ Experience Survey communication toolkit

This toolkit provides materials to help residential aged care providers and consumer peak bodies communicate with residents, their families and carers about the Residents’ Experience Survey.

Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse requirements – guides for registered providers of residential care homes

Updated guides that provide information about the mandatory care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse requirements. The guides include information on the delivery of care minutes, registered nurse coverage and reporting obligations.

Emergency leave provisions extended - COVID-19 – information for permanent aged care residents

Unpredictable COVID-19 outbreaks are still occurring in aged care homes and the broader community, so emergency leave continues to be available for permanent aged care residents until 31  December 2026.

This fact sheet explains COVID-19 emergency leave provisions for residents.

Higher Everyday Living Fee fact sheet

This fact sheet explains the Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF) that was introduced on 1 November 2025. It includes useful information on the new fee and the transition from previous arrangements for both providers and care recipients.

New Arrangements for Aged Care from 1 November 2025 – Residential Care

Residential aged care providers must give this fact sheet to current or prospective residents who are considering opting in to the 1 November 2025 fee arrangements. It explains how opting in works, and how it affects fees and accommodation costs.

Places to people – Fact sheet for providers

All residential care places allocated from the former Aged Care Approvals Rounds (ACAR), or through the bed-ready process ceased to exist from 1 November 2025.

Since 1 November 2025, residential aged care places are allocated directly to older people. The Department has produced a fact sheet to help providers understand what this means.

Regulatory guidance

New guidance is available outlining the regulatory changes affecting residential aged care providers under the new Aged Care Act.

The regulatory changes support continuous improvement and better quality and safety in aged care.

Star Ratings changes – Compliance rating fact sheet

The Department is making changes to the way the Compliance rating for Star Ratings is calculated. This fact sheet explains how and when the changes will commence.

Voluntary Monthly Care Statements guide

This document guides aged care providers on how to provide Monthly Care Statements to their residents.

Webinar series: Home matters – Rethinking aged care design

This 8-part webinar series supports aged care providers and designers to understand and apply the National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines and supporting resources.

Older people, families and carers will also learn about what good design looks like when choosing an aged care home.

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.

Training checklist – aged care providers

Aged care providers can download this checklist of training opportunities to keep track of their learning on the new Aged Care Act.

Training checklist – aged care workers and volunteers

Aged care workers and volunteers can download this checklist of training opportunities to keep track of their learning on the new Aged Care Act.

(UPDATED) Training and professional development opportunities for aged care workers

Information about free and government subsidised opportunities to support workers in building and refining their professional aged care skills.

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.

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.

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.

Below is a list of the updated policies, procedures, and other helpful resources in the last month. We're committed to helping your organisation meet compliance and deliver quality outcomes.

The new Standards Matrix and updated suite of policies and procedures to align with the new Quality Standards, Aged Care Act, regulatory framework, and program changes have been uploaded, with more coming.

Members can go to your login here.

If 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 pass quality reviews easily 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!’

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