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The current Aged Care Quality Standards (current Standards) were introduced in July 2019. All Australian Government-funded aged care services must meet the requirements of the current Standards.
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 a set of draft strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (strengthened Quality Standards). The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards will replace the current Standards and aim to ensure older Australians receive safe and quality care and services.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) will be responsible for regulating registered providers against the strengthened Quality Standards. These strengthened Quality Standards are part of a broader regulatory model placing more emphasis on relational regulation to build relationships, trust and transparency in the sector, at the same time as supporting continuous improvement. The new model puts older Australians first and respects their autonomy and independence to make decisions that are right for them.
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. This will be important for our members working in the aged care sector. The Commissioner must be satisfied that a provider meets relevant requirements for registration and re-registration. Audits against the strengthened Quality Standards are a key registration requirement for some registration categories.
There are currently six registration categories, including:
We are responding to the open consultation and will provide a full summary of the consultation documents soon. You can read more about the consultation material on the Department of Health and Aged Care's website here: Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards guidance consultation | Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
The recent National Disability Service (NDS) 2024-25 Federal Budget submission identified five critical areas requiring financial support. This summary focuses on Sector Support for Transformation, as it is relevant to osteopaths.
The Aged Care Taskforce (the Taskforce) released the Final report of the Aged Care Taskforce in mid-March 2024. This report proposes recommendations “to support an aged care system that is sustainable, fair and facilitates greater innovation in the sector.”