What has been hailed as a new era for the Australian aged care sector is the merger of the Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) and Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) to become the Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA).

The merger follows last year’s recommendation by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety for greater industry collaboration and unified leadership. Operational from July 1, ACCPA will represent aged care providers – both commercial and not-for-profit – to lead and influence the sector’s future with a unified voice and purpose.

ACCPA

Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) is the national industry association for aged care providers offering retirement living, seniors housing, residential care, home care, community care and related services. ACCPA exists to unite aged care providers under a shared vision to enhance the wellbeing of older Australians through a high performing, trusted and sustainable aged care sector. We support our members to provide high quality care and services while amplifying their views and opinions through an authoritative and comprehensive voice to the government, community and media. Our sector serves to make better lives for older Australians, and so do we.

Initial Analysis of New Aged Care Legislation

Labor has tabled two aged care legislation bills – the Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022 outlined below and the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Bill 2022.

Implementing Care Reform Bill 2022

This bill contains three components that address Labor’s promise to deliver 24-hour, on-site registered nurses in residential aged care, cap home care charges and address transparency of provider information likely covering financial information, levels of care time provided, details of key personnel and information about staffing. This bill will amend the Aged Care Act 1997 (the Act) with the intention of enabling “meaningful, practical improvements to the delivery of aged care services” and to “provide greater oversight and understanding of what funds are being used for”.

Schedule 1 – Registered Nurses

This measure fulfills its election commitment for 24-hour registered nurse coverage, establishes a new responsibility on providers of residential care and certain types of flexible care to ensure that a registered nurse is always on site and on duty, and 24/7 at each residential facility operated by the provider on and after July 1, 2023.

This new responsibility will complement existing approved provider responsibilities in the aged care legislation in relation to maintaining an adequate number of appropriately skilled staff and to provide such care and services as are specified in the Quality-of-Care Principles.

The legislation allows for a mechanism for the granting of exemptions in the Quality-of-Care Principles which may provide for:

• The process to apply for the granting of an exemption in relation to a residential aged care facility
• The circumstances in which an exemption may be granted
• The conditions that may apply to such exemptions.

Schedule 2 – Capping Home Care Charges

This measure fulfills an election commitment to cap home care charges. Schedule 2 introduces a new power that allows the Government to cap charges that approved providers of home care may charge care recipients. It also removes the ability to charge exit amounts. It is said this measure will increase transparency and will ensure more funds are available to “meet the direct needs of care recipients”.

Schedule 3 – Transparency of Information

This measure fulfills an election commitment to increase transparency for consumers. Schedule 3 will require the Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care to publish information in relation to aged care services, including information about approved providers of those aged care services. The Schedule will allow for those services to be published. It is said the measure will ‘increase transparency and accountability’ of the aged care sector and empower older people and their families to make ‘more informed care decisions’.

It is expected that information will be required to be provided about how much providers spend on care, nursing, food, maintenance, cleaning, administration and profits; the levels of care time provided; details of key personnel; and/or information about staffing.

Right at Home is well-positioned with these reforms because with our focus on the personalisation of care around our clients, we have never charged exit, subscription or management fees. The only charges to clients are directly related to the care they receive when they receive it. We also ensure that we have agreed care plans and these are reviewed regularly with our nursing staff and the client and their family. 

Right at Home's processes and quality home care services will continue to deliver customer satisfaction and aim to fulfill our mission which is to 'improve the quality of life for those we serve.'

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Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care, and assistance to seniors (elderly and aged care), and any adult who needs our care at home including adults living with a disability who want to continue to live independently or age in their home. Right at Home is your local expert for issues related to caring for your loved ones and is dedicated to keeping you informed about home care. With no admin or subscription fees Right at Home allows you to get more care from your package or budget. 

Right at Home is a 'My Aged Care' government approved, home care provider for levels 1 – 4 and offers flexible in-home care services such as nursing care, after hospital care, post-operative care, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer's care. Right at Home also offers assistance with daily living and personal care such as grooming, hygiene, transport, shopping, meal prep, domestic services and social support, so your loved one can enjoy a more independent, vibrant life. Our nurses and caregivers are screened, highly trained, and insured prior to entering your home so you can trust us with the caregiving while you focus on your loved one. 

To find out more, please give us a call on 1300 363 802 or visit our website. 

Right at Home Offices in Australia: Adelaide Central; Brisbane Bayside; Brisbane North; Brisbane South; Brisbane West; Central Queensland & Wide Bay; Darling Downs; Far North Queensland; Gold Coast North; Gold Coast South; Greater Logan; Mackay; Moreton Bay Region; Noosa, Gympie & Hinterland; Sunshine Coast; Townsville; Central West New South Wales; Gosford; Hunter & Port Stephens; Macarthur Penrith; Newcastle; Northern Rivers; Padstow St George; Southern NSW; Sydney Central & Eastern Suburbs; Sydney Inner West; Sydney Liverpool; Sydney Lower North Shore; Sydney Norwest; Sydney Northern Beaches; Sydney Parramatta; Sydney Ryde; Sydney The Hills; Sydney Upper North Shore; Kalgoorlie Wheatbelt; Perth Como; Perth Midland; Perth Northern Suburbs; Perth West Coast; Southwest Victoria