Aged care

Osteopaths are trained in a range of manual therapy, exercise prescription and other evidence-based techniques that can assist older Australians to manage various conditions associated with ageing.  Some areas where osteopaths can provide assistance include:

• Fall prevention - reviewing residents post-fall to assess injuries/concerns and adjust plans (e.g. gait, stability, postural, functional capacity and other activity-based assessments)
• Comprehensive musculoskeletal and health care assessments incorporating a biopsychosocial focus (e.g. assessing client needs against physiological capabilities and injuries)
• Developing therapy plans and providing interventions to meet needs, goals and preferences of residents, to support their wellness and quality of life (e.g. exercise-based therapies, hands on pain management therapies)

Special Government programs and funding options exist to allow osteopaths to provide services to Australians over 65 years of age, whether they reside in an aged care facility or in their own home. These programs are currently undergoing significant reforms with the commencement of the new Aged Care Act 2024 on 1 July 2025, and the information below reflects the most recent advice received about these reforms.

Residents of aged care facilities can access osteopathic treatment as part of a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) program.

From 1 October 2022, the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model replaced the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI). The AN-ACC aims to better match funding to resident needs for care. There have been independent assessments undertaken to classify residents according to the AN-ACC, which determines the needs for care of residents in a facility and the funds to be provided to the particular facility. Please read the Government factsheet outlining how it sees allied health being supported in aged care under AN-ACC.

Osteopathy Australia is supportive of independent funding assessments being separated from the provision of care, as this should improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the allocation of funding. Osteopathy Australia, however, has some concerns about the risks that care planning completed by aged care providers post-funding allocation may result in the provision of allied health services by in-house or known providers. Therefore, osteopaths seeking to work in aged care must be proactive about building relationships with Residential Aged Care providers. 

Further information on the AN-ACC model and implications for osteopaths working in the aged care sector is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care's website here.

Older Australians living in their own home can also access osteopathic treatment for chronic conditions as part of a CDM program, but may also be able to access funding for other osteopathic services through Community Home Support Packages (CHSP) and Home Care Packages (HCP). These programs are designed to help older Australians to continue to live well at home through the provision of Government subsidies. There is an assessment process that determines what program is most suitable, and more information is available on the My Aged Care website: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/help-at-home

Please note: Aged care support for those wishing to stay in their homes is currently undergoing major changes. From 1 July 2025, a single “Support at Home Program” will replace the CHSP, the HCP Program, the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Program, and other residential respite programs. You can find out more information about this new  Support at Home Program here.

Osteopathy Australia has provided feedback to the Department of Health and Aged Care on the New Aged Care Act consultation. 

In our feedback, we focused on ensuring that allied health professionals, particularly osteopaths, are considered part of the broader multidisciplinary team. Allied health professionals are key components of the care provided to older people in ensuring they are mobile and receive preventative and early intervention in their care approach.

With the new Aged Care Act and the updated Aged Care Quality Standards, there are crucial new requirements for aged care workers. This includes registering in one or more of the following categories: 

1.  Home and community services 
2. Assistive technology and home modifications 
3. Advisory services 
4. Personal and social care (including respite) 
5. Nursing and complex care management 
6. Residential care 

 A key policy update categorises osteopaths among other allied health professionals as 'workers'. This term now includes anyone engaged in the management, maintenance, or provision of care and services to the elderly within an organisation. It covers employees and contractors, allied health professionals the organisation contracts, and staff in roles such as kitchen, cleaning, and office work, whether directly hired or contracted. 

For detailed information, visit the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s site. 

Additionally, a summary of the Quality Standards is available on our website. 

Osteopathy Australia, along with other allied health professional associations, will continue to engage with the Department over the coming months to ensure the critical role of allied health is not overlooked in the implementation of the new Aged Care Act. 

Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) issued a media release highlighting the devastating impact that the new AN-ACC funding scheme is having on allied health professionals and their clients in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs). A recent survey conducted by AHPA has shown that more than one in eight allied health professionals in residential aged care have lost employment, with another 30% expecting to leave the sector due to reduced hours and other significant changes to their working conditions.

AN-ACC has already had a major impact on osteopaths working in aged care, with over 46% of those who responded to the survey losing their role and a further 23% reporting that their hours have decreased. All osteopaths who responded to the survey expressed concerns about the future of allied health and the safety and quality of care for residents in RACFs, with 75% saying individual treatment sessions have decreased and 50% reporting that available services have deteriorated since the introduction of AN-ACC.

AN-ACC came into effect on 1 October 2022 but is bringing about changes to the delivery of allied health services in RACFs that will ultimately affect the health and wellbeing of aged care residents.

The current Aged Care Quality Standards (current Standards) were introduced on 1 July 2019. In response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) has reviewed the current Standards and developed the draft strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (strengthened Quality Standards). The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards will replace the current Standards.

Under the new Aged Care Act, all registered providers of Commonwealth-funded aged care services will be required to be registered in one or more of the provider registration categories based on the service types they intend to deliver. The Commissioner must be satisfied that a provider meets relevant requirements for registration and re-registration.

A key policy update now categorises osteopaths (among other allied health professionals) as 'workers'. This term now includes anyone engaged in the management, maintenance, or provision of care and services to the elderly within an organisation. It covers employees and contractors, allied health professionals the organisation contracts, and staff in roles such as kitchen, cleaning, and office work, whether directly hired or contracted.

You can see a full summary of the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards on our website.

Over the past couple of years, Osteopathy Australia has been working with colleagues at AHPA to advocate for fairer access to allied health services by aged care recipients.  In March 2023, AHPA prepared this brief on the key issues for the Minister of Aged Care.  We will continue to work with AHPA to progress the issues raised in this brief.

See: Allied Health in Aged Care - What is needed AHPA March 2023

Background

Have you recently been approached by an aged care provider asking you to supply copies of your Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) certificate, police check, a copy of your qualifications and other documentation? This documentation is requested by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and provided to Ahpra as a part of your registration as an osteopath. If you have been asked to supply this information, search no further – this is your essential guide to understanding your obligations when working in aged care.

Changes in the aged care sector

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety provided 148 recommendations to reform the aged care sector. The Royal Commission looked at the quality and safety of residential and in-home aged care for older Australians, how to best deliver aged care services and give older Australians more choice and control about their care.

In late 2023, the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) released the exposure draft for the new Aged Care Act. The new Act, commencing on 1 July 2025, will replace the Aged Care Act 1997, Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018. Additional requirements will be placed on the provider and aged care workers. See our full submission to the new Aged Care Act consultation here.

Since the Royal Commission and the New Aged Care Act reforms, we have seen increased tightening and strengthened regulatory requirements being enforced on aged care workers by providers.

What information am I obliged to provide to aged care providers?

There are no rules or regulations around the requirement to provide the above information to aged care providers. We recommend that you use your professional judgment and discretion in doing so. 

As an aged care worker, you may want to redirect the aged care provider to the Ahpra register of practitioners which can be found here.

As an osteopath, you are a registered allied health professional who has already undergone several rigorous checks to obtain your initial Ahpra registration. These checks are conducted on a randomised basis when renewing your registration with Ahpra annually.

Aged care providers can find out more information about the registration standards on the Ahpra website here: Osteopathy Board of Australia - Registration Standards.

If you have any further questions or would like clarification about the above information, please contact us at (02) 9410 0099 or via email at clinicalpolicy@osteopathy.org.au

The Quality Practice Framework in Aged Care acknowledges that the knowledge, skills, and scope of practice of osteopaths with a focus on aged care vary depending on education, workplace requirements, clinical team requirements, and relevant industry policies. It is not intended to define all knowledge sets and skills possessed by these osteopaths nor all interventions these practitioners offer. Read more here.