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Welcome to our April bulletin
Have you checked out our updated Sector Support and Development webpage? Here you can find information for CHSP Providers on the Aged Care Reforms, Support at Home Program, Aged Care Quality standards, Diversity and Wellness and Reablement.
Do you have a colleague who would like to sign up for our bulletin to keep up to date with training and CHSP updates? Forward this edition and get them to sign up below.
Delay of the new Aged Care Act
The new Aged Care act was due to commence July 1, 2024, however, is now delayed.
On 3 April 2024, the Minister for Aged Care released a statement which said,
“Thank you to the older people, their families and carers, workers, advocates and aged care providers who shared their feedback on the draft new Aged Care Act.
We heard strong feedback that the proposed new Aged Care Act is a once in a generation opportunity for systemic reform that we must get right.
The Government is now considering the extensive and valuable feedback to refine and finalise the draft legislation before it is introduced to Parliament.
We will update the commencement date of the legislation following these updates and before the bill is introduced to the Parliament”.
CHSP Growth Funding Round (open to all Aged Care providers)
CHSP growth funding round is expected to open mid to late April 2024. Specifically for the following service types in identified aged care planning regions: Domestic assistance, allied health and therapy, transport and home maintenance. It is an open grant round which means aged care, disability, health and veterans care sectors can apply. Successful providers will receive a grant agreement from 1 October 2024 to 30 June 2025, and be included in the 2025-2027 CHSP funding extensions process.
Draft Grant documentation: Forecast Opportunity View - P4635: GrantConnect (grants.gov.au)
Participate in the Aged Care Workers Survey
The Aged Care Worker Survey is an opportunity for personal or home care workers and allied health professionals working in aged care to tell the Department what is working well and not so well in the sector. Your feedback will help to understand the skills and training needed, what parts of the job are challenging and rewarding, and where you may need further support.
This survey is also open to independent contractors, agency and labour hire staff working in aged care.
Take the Aged Care Worker Survey 2024 now. It takes around 20 minutes to complete and closes Tuesday 30 April.
Provide feedback on the new Quality Standards resources
There is only a week left to provide feedback on the draft guidance documents for the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission developed the resources to help providers understand and meet the strengthened Standards. Your feedback is important to make sure they are useful.
Share your feedback on the Final draft by midday AEST, 30 April 2024:
Training Opportunities
We are planning our training and development program for the next financial year and are interested to know what support you need to manage and understand the aged care reforms as well as demonstrating high quality service delivery. By completing this short 2 question survey, you will help us to develop the workshops, training and resources that best fit your needs.
To keep up-to-date with all our training and events, be sure to head to our Training and Events page
To help you receive important emails about any training events we hold:
- Add, order@humanitix.com & info@humanitix.com to your contacts, safe senders & domains list
- If you haven’t received the confirmation email from Humanitix after you register, check your spam folder. Not there, talk to your IT people. They have likely quarantined your Humanitix email.
Supporting Volunteers to take an inclusive wellness approach Lunch & Learn Session Tuesday 30 April 2024 12:30-1:00 pm
The Supporting Volunteers to take an inclusive wellness approach kit is designed to assist service providers integrate an inclusive, wellness approach in their processes for volunteer recruitment, induction and orientation, training and on-going engagement with volunteers The kit includes a range of easy-to-use Information Sheets, and tips and hints. The resource kit is accompanied by two videos.
Volunteer Education:
- how diversity, wellness and inclusive practice relates to their role and the way they work with clients.
- healthy and active ageing approaches
- client choice and control and
- practical ideas to support the independence of older people.
Coordinator education:
- volunteer recruitment
- induction and orientation,
- training, and
- ongoing volunteer engagement.
The Supporting Volunteers to take an inclusive wellness approach resource is produced by the Eastern Sector Development Team.
Download the resource and watch the videos here
Webinar Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctcuGrpjkoH9FqsO07WadUZiv48pQXEoig
Consumer engagement in Aged Care – Practice essentials
This 3-hour webinar is designed to build staff’s understanding of consumer engagement in aged care services. We will discuss the importance of consumer engagement to support the design, delivery, and evaluation of services in in line with sector requirements. This includes an overview of:·
- Consumer engagement as a core component part of ongoing quality improvement
- Aged care service provider requirements in relation to consumer engagement (in alignment with the Aged Care Act, Aged Care Quality Standards, Strengthening Provider Governance
- Guiding principles of effective consumer engagement
- Key consumer engagement strategies (e.g. Quality Care Advisory Group, Consumer Reps, Feedback systems etc.)
- Practical ways to ensure consumer engagement strategies are meaningful and achievable (within the scope of your service and resources)
- Resources to support implementation.
Target group
These workshops are designed for staff who are actively involved in ongoing quality improvement within their agency. This may include managers and program leaders, quality improvement staff and staff involved in consumer engagement strategies.
Registration
Group 1: Wednesday 29th May 2024 9:30am – 12:30pm
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/consumer-engagement-in-aged-care-practice-essentials-registration-851884027057
Group 2: Thursday 6th June 2024 9:30am – 12:30pm
Group 3: Wednesday 12th June 2024 9:30am – 12:30pm
Towards Specialisation – A video & resource kit for aged care providers gives information on how to become verified as a provider of specialised aged care services. It supports providers to understand the Specialisation Verification Framework and how it can benefit your organisation and the older people you work with.
The 8 videos focus on people and communities recognised as special needs groups under the Aged Care Act 1997. They’re edited versions of online workshops held with aged care providers. In the videos, we hear from providers, peak bodies, researchers and older people.
The videos and resources provide you with:
- An understanding of how the Specialisation Verification Framework supports you to offer services that are the best fit for people who identify with special needs groups
- Insight into the needs of these people and how difficult it can be for them to find their best fit
- Clarity on the right time to start the specialisation verification process
- An understanding of verification requirements
- Steps for progressing your verification application
- Links to useful resources.
The Towards Specialisation Video and Resource kit is funded by the Australian Government and produced by the Bayside City Council SSD, SSD Connect Alliance, and the Eastern SSD Partnership.
Watch the videos here.
Find out how to apply for Specialisation Verification here.
Responding to Elder abuse
OPAN has developed a free, self-paced online training to enhance the skills of aged care professionals in responding to suspected, witnessed or disclosed abuse of older people.
Register for OPAN’s free online learning platform to access this course. The 3 modules are approximately 6 hours of CPD.
Connect with the team
Alison Clarke
Regional Advisor Sector Support & Development
M: 0419 376 893
E: AClarke@bayside.vic.gov.au
Louise Jardine
Sector Support & Development Project Officer
M: 0408 394 038
E: ljardine@bayside.vic.gov.au
The Sector Support & Development Team wish to acknowledge the traditional owners on the lands on which we live and work and the lands on which you find yourselves accessing this Bulletin. We pay our respects to Elders past present and emerging and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples.